Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly regarded as an effective technique for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair preserves an extended history of substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. Collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of roughly three months for substances. The collection process is straightforward, alterations are challenging, and transporting is efficient.
Collecting a 1.5-inch sample of approximately 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg – the ideal amount for screening and confirmation. For enhanced EtG analyses or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is preferred. It is advisable to determine the weight using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair only, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types (i.e., facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory process for processing a drug test result comprises four critical phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the sample’s initial integration into the laboratory’s system. This involves checking that the sample was securely sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a primary swift evaluation for drug misuse. While Screening offers a low-cost method to dismiss drug presence in most samples, confirmation is necessary for positive screens to be legally valid. Any samples implying positivity during Screening require follow-up confirmation.
Should a sample show presumptive positivity during the Screening phase, more hair is drawn from the original sample for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are recovered from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug analysis is particularly complex.
Confirming a positive screen involves the use of GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Necessary presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is appraised according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair qualifications and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often denoted as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand and not the scalp’s hair follicle.
In Montrose, KS, the advantages of hair follicle testing over traditional urine testing are evident. Hair tests retain drug traces for longer, providing a broader detection window. This allows employers to identify habitual drug use, unlike urine tests which detect more recent consumption. Additionally, hair testing is less susceptible to tampering, ensuring employers receive honest results every time.
The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Montrose, KS, is one of its most significant advantages. It can trace drug use for up to 90 days, offering employers a detailed view of an individual's substance history. This enables a better assessment of long-term habits compared to more limited tests that focus on short-term usage.
Hair follicle testing in Montrose, KS, stands out as a tamper-resistant testing method. The nature of hair sample collection makes it extremely difficult to alter or dilute the specimen. This gives employers confidence in the authenticity of test results, as it diminishes the possibility of adulteration that other testing methods may encounter.
With convenient nationwide and local locations in Montrose, KS, our testing centers ensure ease of access to hair follicle testing services. This widespread availability facilitates quick, hassle-free testing for all clients, reinforcing our commitment to delivering exceptional service and accessibility to communities nationwide.
The hair follicle testing procedure in Montrose, KS, is simple and confidential. Ordering a test, sample collection, and receiving results are conducted with utmost privacy. This straightforward process ensures that individuals' concerns about confidentiality are addressed while providing a user-friendly experience for all participants.
Our Montrose, KS, hair follicle testing services are characterized by affordable pricing and fast turnaround. We are dedicated to offering competitive rates without compromising on quality or speed, ensuring our services provide excellent value. This allows companies of any size to benefit from reliable testing without straining their budgets.
Hair follicle drug testing in Montrose, KS, offers fast, accurate, and reliable results. The precision of this method allows it to effectively identify substance use, proving its superiority over other testing methods. Its efficient sample collection and analysis process ensures speedy results, aiding businesses and individuals in making informed decisions quickly.
Employing hair follicle testing brings compliance and peace of mind to Montrose, KS, businesses. By adopting this testing method, employers align with drug-free workplace policies, lowering legal risks and enhancing overall safety. Hair testing’s reliable outcomes assure companies of maintaining a secure and legally compliant work environment.
