Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. As hair grows, it captures biomarkers within its strands, offering an extended timeline of substance usage. When hair is sampled close to the scalp, it can reveal a retrospective consumption period of approximately three months for alcohol and other drugs. The collection process for hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and easily transportable.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches in length with roughly 200 hairs (comparable in thickness to a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields around 100mg, which is the preferred quantity for drug testing and confirmation. For tests detecting EtG or exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample is suggested. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair is acceptable. References to head hair pertain specifically to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing drug test samples includes four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning consists of initially integrating a sample into the laboratory’s database. This step includes ensuring the sample’s seal and shipment integrity, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any requisite data entry not already covered by an electronic chain of custody protocol.
Screening serves as a preliminary evaluation for potential drug presence. Though Screening is a cost-efficient method to detect drug use in most samples, a positive finding must undergo confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptively positive samples require subsequent verification.
Should a sample show presumptive positives during Screening, an additional portion of hair from the original specimen undergoes preparation for Extraction. This stage involves isolating drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods such as urine or oral fluid, affirming the complexity of hair-based drug detection.
Positive screening outcomes require Confirmation through techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to Confirmation, any samples with presumptive positives are cleaned as necessary. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis pertains to the hair strand rather than the follicle itself under the scalp.
In comparing hair follicle testing with traditional urine tests in Summer Shade, KY, the benefits are clear. Hair testing boasts superior detection accuracy and reliability, detecting substances long after ingestion where urine tests might fail. Employers gain valuable insight into an individual's substance history.
Advantages of Hair Testing:
Hair follicle testing in Summer Shade, KY, offers an extended detection window that captures drug use over a 90-day period.
Why is this important?
One significant advantage of hair follicle testing in Summer Shade, KY, is its tamper-resistant nature.
This testing method helps reduce the risk of sample adulteration, leading to more reliable and unquestionable results.
Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient nationwide testing centers, including local sites in Summer Shade, KY.
The hair follicle testing process in Summer Shade, KY, is straightforward and confidential, from ordering to receiving results.
Steps Involved:
Our hair follicle testing services in Summer Shade, KY, are not only fast but also competitively priced.
Employers of all sizes can benefit from affordable pricing structures without compromising on the quality and speed of service.
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Summer Shade, KY, provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. Unlike other methods, these tests are renowned for their high accuracy in detecting substance use, ensuring employers and individuals receive dependable insights.
This testing method swiftly delivers results, allowing for efficient management of workplace safety and individual responsibilities.
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Summer Shade, KY, can ensure compliance with workplace drug-free policies and enhance workplace safety.
The benefits include:
