Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now acknowledged as an effective method for identifying both alcohol and drug use. The hair retains historical information about alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period extending to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch sample comprising around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for screening and verification. For EtG, extra tests, and/or screenings beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample with a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent volume of body hair can be used. In discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The lab processing of a drug test outcome involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the sample's initial entry into a lab's system. This step includes verifying the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry if not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening comprises an initial rapid check for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is an economical way to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screening result must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Any samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening require a secondary confirmation.
Should a sample test positive during the Screening stage, more hair from the original sample is taken for Extraction. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging to conduct.
The Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a presumptive positive are cleaned before confirmation if necessary. The full laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the test focuses on analyzing the hair strand itself rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in Ruthven, IA stands out due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability over urine tests. While urine tests have their place, hair testing provides a more comprehensive view, making it a preferred choice for its effectiveness.
In Ruthven, IA, the ability of hair follicle testing to detect drug use spanning up to 90 days gives employers an extended perspective on individual's substance use history. This extended detection window is critical for making informed decisions.
Hair follicle tests conducted in Ruthven, IA offer a tamper-resistant testing method. These tests lower the risk of sample adulteration, delivering dependable and ironclad results.
With a network of testing locations nationwide, including centers in Ruthven, IA, accessing our testing services is convenient and hassle-free, ensuring swift service wherever you are.
Our process in Ruthven, IA is designed to be simple and confidential, from ordering to receiving results. We prioritize privacy, making the experience streamlined and respectful of individual concerns.
In Ruthven, IA, our competitive pricing and fast turnaround times provide companies with significant value. Our services are structured to offer peace of mind from both a financial and efficiency standpoint.
The hair follicle drug test in Ruthven, IA ensures quick and accurate results. This method excels in offering precision and detecting substance usage with a higher rate of accuracy compared to traditional tests.
Employing hair follicle testing in Ruthven, IA can assure compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This not only minimizes legal risks but also boosts overall workplace security.
