Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an influential method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within its strands as it grows. When sampled near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use across an approximately 3-month period. It's straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.
A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is ideal. It’s recommended to use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a comparable quantity of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" refers strictly to scalp hair. "Body hair" encompasses all other categories of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the sample's initial entry into a lab system, confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from the electronic chain of custody system.
Screening conducts a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Although this cost-efficient step can exclude drug use in most samples, positive results from Screening need confirmation to be legally valid. Presumptively positive Screening results do necessitate subsequent confirmation.
When a sample appears positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for further preparation during Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are retrieved from hair at lower concentrations than other approaches (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing is particularly complex.
Confirmation for any positive Screenings is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation, if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is often used, but the actual test assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Indianola, IA, offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. These advantages include better detection accuracy and increased reliability. Where urine tests may miss recent drug use, hair tests provide an expanded window of detection.
Employers relying on hair testing can benefit from a comprehensive view of an individual's substance use history. This method surpasses urine tests with almost foolproof detection capabilities, ensuring better workplace safety and policy enforcement.
Indianola, IA, businesses benefit immensely from the extended detection window provided by hair follicle tests. This testing method can trace drug use up to 90 days prior, offering employers a thorough understanding of an individual’s substance use habits.
Such detailed insights allow employers to make informed hiring or disciplinary decisions. This capability extends beyond what standard urine tests offer, which typically only capture short-term activity.
The integrity of hair follicle testing in Indianola, IA, is a cut above other methods. Hair tests are tamper-resistant, greatly reducing the possibility of sample manipulation. This ensures the results reported are credible and trustworthy.
Employers gain confidence with hair testing due to the decreased risk of adulteration. This reliability assures that decisions based on the outcomes of these tests are intricately sound and defensible.
Accredited Drug Testing offers a network of testing locations, both nationwide and within Indianola, IA. This network ensures ease of access to drug testing services, making the process hassle-free and convenient.
Locals in Indianola can quickly get tested without the inconvenience of long trips, streamlining the testing process. Such convenience enables individuals and businesses to seamlessly incorporate drug testing into their routine operations.
Our hair follicle testing process in Indianola, IA, is marked by its simplicity and confidentiality. Ordering, taking, and receiving test results is a straightforward experience, designed with privacy in mind.
Clients can trust in the confidentiality of their data, emboldening their trust in the process. The ease of use facilitates stress-free compliance, helping individuals and businesses focus on core activities while adeptly managing health and safety protocols.
Hair follicle testing in Indianola, IA, stands out with its competitive pricing structures and fast turnaround times. This offers great value to companies of all sizes, ensuring affordability doesn't come at the cost of accuracy.
Our pricing is designed to be budget-friendly, with results delivered swiftly, enabling informed decision-making without delay. Clients enjoy both efficacy and economy, essential for long-term success and operational efficiency.
In Indianola, IA, hair follicle drug tests are known for their unmatched precision and quick reporting capabilities. Accuracy in detecting substances is high, ensuring reliable results. Employers, courts, and individuals can trust these tests to deliver swift and accurate findings, supporting informed decision-making with assurance.
Employers and agencies benefiting from these tests can act promptly on results, with little delay. The speed of the process allows organizations to maintain effective and efficient operations while adhering to necessary drug-free policies.
Employers in Indianola, IA, find peace of mind using hair follicle testing for drug screenings. This testing method aids in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies, safeguarding companies from potential legal liabilities.
By adopting hair tests, organizations enhance workplace safety and uphold a culture of responsibility. The method also aligns with rigorous code requirements, diversifying their risk mitigation strategies effectively.
