Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly viewed as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers in the growing hair strand fibers. When sourced near the scalp, hair offers up to a roughly 90-day detection period for substances. It's easy to collect, less prone to tampering, and straightforward to transport.
A 1.5-inch portion consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for measuring the sample is suggested. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair refers to all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary phases in the laboratory processing of a drug screen are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning constitutes the initial sample processing into a lab’s workflow. This step entails verifying that the sample is appropriately sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not encompassed by an electronic chain of custody platform.
Screening performs a preliminary review for drugs of abuse presence. Though Screening is a cost-efficient method to negate drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be verified to be court-admissible. Samples that show presumptive positivity in Screening require additional confirmation.
Should a sample indicate presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at notably lower concentrations than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring why hair drug screening is particularly challenging.
Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation as appropriate. The end-to-end laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized for both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", this test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Stuart, IA, hair follicle testing offers several advantages over urine testing. Superior detection accuracy and reliability make hair testing the preferred option.
With this method, there's a reduced chance of false negatives, offering a trustworthy review of an individual's substance use history.
In Stuart, IA, hair follicle testing is invaluable for its extended detection window.
It provides employers with a comprehensive overview of drug use patterns, detecting up to 90 days prior, helping in hiring decisions.
In Stuart, IA, hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant solution for drug testing.
This method significantly minimizes the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of results.
Accredited Drug Testing provides convenience with numerous testing centers nationwide, including local options in Stuart, IA.
Our services ensure accessible, hassle-free testing processes, supporting immediate testing needs.
In Stuart, IA, our hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential.
The streamlined approach to ordering, collecting, and receiving results caters to privacy concerns and assures ease of use.
We take pride in offering affordable pricing and a fast turnaround for hair follicle tests in Stuart, IA.
Our competitive rates and quick processing provide businesses of all sizes with valuable, cost-effective solutions.
Hair follicle drug tests in Stuart, IA, are renowned for delivering quick and reliable results, ensuring high precision in substance use detection.
These tests offer an impressive accuracy that sets a new standard in drug testing, swiftly identifying traces of drug use.
For employers in Stuart, IA, using hair follicle testing brings compliance and peace of mind.
These tests ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks and enhancing overall safety.
