Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a comprehensive history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair's fibers. When hair is sourced near the scalp, it can reveal a detection period of up to three months for substances. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch sample consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is optimal for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and beyond 10-panel tests, 150mg of hair is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. Mention of head hair specifically indicates scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (like facial and axillary hair).
Process Overview
The testing process for drug results in a laboratory involves four principal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning concerns the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system, ensuring the sample was securely sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing missing data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening efficiently excludes drug use in most samples, a positive result must undergo confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.
Upon a presumptive positive result in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are drawn from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening particularly challenging.
Confirmation of any positive screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, any samples that are presumptively positive are washed as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests in Brooksville, ME. Enhanced detection accuracy highlights hair tests as superior.
In Brooksville, ME, hair follicle testing extends the time frame to detect drug use, with a coverage of up to 90 days. Longer detection window offers comprehensive insights.
Hair follicle tests in Brooksville, ME, minimize the chance of tampering, delivering dependable results. Resistant to adulteration, this method is highly reliable.
Convenience meets national reach with our hair testing services in Brooksville, ME. Easy access is provided by our numerous testing sites nationwide.
The hair follicle testing process in Brooksville, ME, remains simple and confidential. User-friendly process safeguards privacy concerns.
Competitive pricing and prompt service define hair follicle testing in Brooksville, ME. Affordable and fast characterize our services.
In Brooksville, ME, hair follicle drug tests stand out due to their quick and consistent results. Speedy processing ensures critical information is delivered promptly.
Employers in Brooksville, ME, benefit from hair follicle testing systems that ensure compliance with a drug-free workplace. It provides peace of mind.
