Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has become recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term data about alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within its strands. When cut close to the scalp, it can reveal alcohol and drug use spanning up to roughly a 3-month timeframe. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively tamper-proof, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of about 200 hairs (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both preliminary and confirmatory analyses. For EtG, additional substances, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair fibers are suggested. It's advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. “Head hair” specifically denotes scalp hair, whereas “body hair” encompasses all other types (facial, underarm, etc.).
Process Overview
The key phases in the lab processing of drug test results include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial stage of incorporating a sample into the lab’s system. This process involves ensuring that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any additional data requirements not met by an electronic custody system.
Screening is an initial assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-effective exclusion of drug use for the majority of samples, a positive result requires further validation to be court-admissible. Any samples that yield a presumptive positive during Screening need a secondary verification.
If a sample is presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower levels than with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underlining why hair drug testing presents the greatest challenge in performance.
GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS is used for the Confirmation of any affirmative screening result. Presumptively positive samples are cleaned before confirmation, as necessary. The lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the auspices of the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly titled as "hair follicle tests", the assessment itself examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why choose hair follicle testing over urine testing in Natrona, KS? Hair tests stand out due to their superior detection capability and reliability.
In Natrona, KS, hair follicle testing excels with an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This gives employers a thorough insight into an individual's drug history, offering a more comprehensive picture than shorter-duration tests. Such information is vital for informed decision-making in recruitment and ongoing employment processes.
The hair follicle tests in Natrona, KS, revolutionize workplace drug assessments by being tamper-resistant. The difficulty in altering or tampering with hair samples means that results are always trustworthy and authentic, providing both employers and employees with unwavering assurance in the testing process.
With convenient nationwide testing centers, including local options in Natrona, KS, accessing hair follicle testing is effortlessly simple.
In Natrona, KS, the process for hair follicle testing is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to obtaining results, every step prioritizes user privacy and ease. Such a streamlined approach ensures participant comfort and promotes a sense of security in handling sensitive information.
Our services in Natrona, KS, offer affordable pricing coupled with fast turnaround. Whether you represent a large corporation or a small business, our testing solutions provide outstanding value and deliver peace of mind with speed and efficiency in results.
In Natrona, KS, hair follicle drug tests are synonymous with fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. Their unmatched precision in detecting drugs ensures that employers have complete confidence in their workforce compliance with substance policies. The speed with which hair samples can be analyzed further distinguishes them from traditional testing methods.
For employers in Natrona, KS, implementing hair follicle testing translates to compliance with drug-free workplace policies and achieving peace of mind. It significantly cuts down legal risks and strengthens company safety protocols, contributing to a safer and more harmonious working environment.
