Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Welcome, LA

What it is, How it works

The analysis of hair samples has grown in prominence as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair archives a prolonged consumption history of alcohol and various drugs by holding onto biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When the hair is clipped near the scalp, it can reveal a detection span of up to about three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is uncomplicated, somewhat resistant to tampering, and straightforward to dispatch.

A 1.5-inch section comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil thickness) nearest to the scalp furnishes 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other varieties of hair (such as facial and axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results consists of four fundamental stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This step involves ensuring that the sample was correctly sealed and delivered, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry that an electronic chain of custody system does not provide.

Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug usage for the majority of samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in court. Any sample indicating a potential positive during Screening necessitates a secondary confirmation.

If a sample appears potentially positive at the Screening stage, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are drawn out from the hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples appearing presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation, as necessary. The entire laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection range: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, contrary to urine tests which have a briefer detection range.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is exceedingly challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, thereby making the outcomes more dependable.
• Yields historical insight: It can exhibit a pattern of drug consumption over time, rather than recent usage alone.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur greater costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Discrepancies in outcomes: Factors like hair color and individual disparities in hair growth may influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While frequently called "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Welcome, LA. Explore the advantages of hair testing compared to traditional urine tests. Hair tests provide superior detection accuracy and reliability, offering a more thorough assessment of substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Welcome, LA. Hair follicle tests excel in identifying drug use over extended periods—up to 90 days. This extended window empowers employers with a detailed view of an individual's substance history, enhancing decision-making processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Welcome, LA. Hair follicle testing significantly minimizes the threat of sample adulteration, offering results that are reliable and unquestionable, thus maintaining the integrity of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Welcome, LA. Enjoy the convenience of our widespread testing centers, providing swift and hassle-free access to testing services both locally in Welcome and nationwide.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Welcome, LA. Gain clarity on the straightforward and confidential procedure for ordering, conducting, and obtaining results, ensuring privacy and ease of use are maintained throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Welcome, LA. Benefit from competitive pricing structures paired with quick turnaround times, offering great value and peace of mind for businesses of any scale.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Welcome, LA. Discover the exceptional precision and rapid results offered by hair follicle drug tests. Their high accuracy levels ensure detection of substance use, providing reliable data quickly. Welcome's facilities excel in delivering dependable results efficiently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Welcome, LA. By utilizing hair follicle testing, employers ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies, effectively reducing legal hazards and enhancing overall workplace safety.

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