Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is widely recognized as an effective approach for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. By embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow, hair provides a long-term record of substance use. When sourced near the scalp, hair offers about a 90-day period for detecting both alcohol and drugs. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to send off.
A 1.5-inch sample consisting of nearly 200 hair strands, roughly equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil, taken closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It's suggested to measure the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary steps in laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory’s system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigns a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and finalizes any extra data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial quick assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to rule out drug use for most samples, a positive outcome requires confirmation to be legally defensible. All samples with preliminary positive results from Screening need further confirmation.
If the Screening phase yields a potentially positive result, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug analysis the most complex method.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a presumptively positive result are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the test actually evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair testing in White Cloud, KS stands far ahead in comparison to urine tests. While urine tests are traditional, hair follicle testing boasts superior detection capabilities and accuracy. This method presents a clear advantage by revealing substance use over a prolonged period, offering a more reliable assessment.
Leveraging an extended detection window, hair follicle testing in White Cloud, KS provides employers with a detailed history of drug use. This method allows for review of up to 90 days, giving a comprehensive picture beyond what standard tests offer.
Hair follicle tests in White Cloud, KS are highly tamper-resistant. This testing method minimizes the risk of sample manipulation, providing accurate and foolproof results. With lower chances of adulteration, this ensures trustworthiness in results.
With extensive test centers across the nation and local options in White Cloud, KS, accessing hair follicle testing is straightforward and hassle-free. This widespread network offers individuals and businesses easy entry to essential testing services.
The hair follicle testing process in White Cloud, KS is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, the process has been streamlined to ensure privacy and ease of use. It tackles concerns related to confidentiality head-on, providing peace of mind.
White Cloud, KS offers hair follicle tests at competitive pricing, with swift turnaround times. This approach provides substantial value, catering to businesses of all sizes by ensuring affordability without sacrificing speed or results quality.
In White Cloud, KS, hair follicle drug tests provide swift and dependable outcomes. These tests are notably precise, efficiently identifying substance use. The speed and accuracy of this method offer significant advantages over other testing procedures, ensuring timely and reliable results for both individuals and organizations.
Employers in White Cloud, KS can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle tests, aligning with drug-free regulations. This method diminishes legal concerns and promotes safety within the workplace, offering dual benefits.
