Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The use of hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive timeline of drug and alcohol exposure by incorporating biomarkers into the hair shaft as it grows. Sampling hair close to the scalp can reveal drug and alcohol use within an estimated three-month time frame. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch section consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent in thickness to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplemental tests, or analyses beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable volume of body hair can be collected. When referring to head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing drug test outcomes involves four essential phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a sample within a laboratory's framework. This incorporates ensuring the sample was sealed and delivered correctly, allotting a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an expedited preliminary examination for drugs of misuse. While Screening provides a cost-efficient approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to stand up in court. Any samples preliminarily tested as positive during Screening demand subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample appear positive in the Screening process, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. This step involves retrieving drugs from hair at a substantially lower concentration than alternative methods (such as urine or oral fluid), establishing hair drug screening as one of the more demanding methods to execute.
Confirmation of any preliminary positive screening is facilitated through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples initially deemed positive undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory operation from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specifications and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often labeled "hair follicle tests," these tests actually analyze the hair strand, not the follicle situated below the scalp.
Hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in Milbridge, ME, through heightened detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests are less prone to sample tampering, enhancing credibility.
While urine tests detect recent usage, hair testing provides a broader overview, capturing substance use history over months.
This makes it a superior choice for employers aiming for comprehensive assessments.
In Milbridge, ME, hair follicle testing offers an unmatched detection window, reaching up to 90 days. This extended period allows employers to gain insight into an individual's substance use history, far beyond what urine tests can provide.
Such thorough assessments enable informed decision-making regarding current and potential employees, considerably enhancing workplace safety standards.
Hair follicle testing in Milbridge, ME, provides a tamper-resistant method that minimizes the risk of adulteration. By analyzing hair samples, these tests offer reliable results not easily manipulated like other methods.
This resistance against tampering ensures validity and integrity, fostering trust in the results produced, crucial in making confident employment or legal decisions.
The availability of convenient testing centers simplifies drug testing procedures in Milbridge, ME. With a widespread network of locations nationwide, individuals can access testing facilities with ease and efficiency.
This convenient access streamlines the testing process, enabling quick and hassle-free services to meet testing requirements promptly and effectively.
In Milbridge, ME, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, addressing concerns around privacy and usability. From ordering tests to receiving results, each step is designed with user-friendliness in mind.
This seamless process ensures that individuals and businesses can navigate drug testing requirements without confusion or breaches of personal information.
Affordable pricing and fast turnaround times highlight the value of hair follicle testing in Milbridge, ME. With competitive rates, companies of any size can avail of high-quality testing without breaking the bank.
Swift processing ensures quick access to results, balancing cost-effectiveness with the assurance of timely, accurate data for decision-making purposes.
The speed and reliability of hair follicle drug tests in Milbridge, ME, are unmatched. These tests deliver precise results, pinpointing substance use with remarkable accuracy.
Detecting various substances efficiently, they offer a rapid assessment without compromising the integrity of the outcomes. This high level of precision ensures that employers get dependable results to make informed decisions.
Ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies is seamless with hair follicle testing in Milbridge, ME. By utilizing this method, employers mitigate legal risks and uphold safety standards.
The reliable nature of hair tests reassures employers of consistent results, providing peace of mind and a secure working environment, free from the implications associated with substance misuse.
