Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged timeline of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair shaft. Hair collected close to the scalp can reveal a detection span of up to around three months for alcohol and other substances. The collection process for hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easily transportable.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample size for analysis and validation. For EtG assays, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. It's suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, it pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The lab processing of a drug test result is divided into four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the initial handling of a sample within a lab's system. This step entails confirming the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary expedited evaluation for drugs of abuse. Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage in most samples, but a positive screen needs confirmation to be legally acceptable. Samples showing presumptive positive results in Screening require an additional confirmation step.
Upon a presumptive positive result during the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, drug substances are retrieved from hair at a significantly lower concentration than with methods like urine or saliva tests, which is why hair drug analysis is among the most challenging methodologies.
Any positive results from Screening are confirmed by GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as needed. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While often named "hair follicle tests", the evaluation focuses on the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing in McNair, MS, outperforms standard urine tests significantly, demonstrating superior detection and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis offers an extended look into a person's drug use history, often revealing a broader range of substance use.
Detections via hair follicle testing reach back as far as 90 days, giving employers more accuracy and confidence in their hiring decisions. By contrast, urine tests excel in detecting only recent use, being ideal for short-term detection windows.
Hair follicle testing, conducted in McNair, MS, provides an exceptional detection period of up to 90 days. This allows employers to understand a long-term overview of an individual's substance activity, which is crucial for informed decision-making.
Employers benefit from comprehensive knowledge of an employee's or applicant's past behavior. Such insight is invaluable for maintaining high standards and ensuring a safe work environment.
Employing a tamper-resistant method, hair follicle drug tests in McNair, MS, mitigate risks of sample adulteration. The reliability this method provides ensures the accuracy and authenticity of each test result.
This method stands out due to its robustness against tampering, securing the integrity of the sample collected. This measure is instrumental for stakeholders seeking uncompromised drug testing outcomes.
The availability of numerous testing centers both nationwide and locally in McNair, MS, provides ease and convenience for anyone needing hair follicle testing. With accessible locations, scheduling and conducting tests have become seamless.
This extensive network ensures a hassle-free experience, fostering straightforward access to superior testing services where and when they're needed the most.
Our simple and confidential process in McNair, MS, reassures test takers and clients by emphasizing privacy and ease. From ordering to result dissemination, each step maintains the highest confidentiality.
This approach addresses privacy concerns while simplifying the entire testing procedure, representing an ideal combination of ease of use and maximum discretion.
In McNair, MS, we offer competitive pricing with quick turnaround times, ensuring excellent value across varying business sizes. These elements bring peace of mind to stakeholders seeking efficient yet cost-effective testing.
Our pricing structures are designed to deliver affordability without compromising on quality, ensuring our testing services remain accessible to businesses of all scales.
In McNair, MS, hair follicle drug tests provide precise and swift outcomes, ensuring high accuracy in detecting substance use. This testing method's reliability stems from an ability to pinpoint a broader range of substances and create a clear picture of usage patterns.
The efficiency of this procedure caters to employers who need conclusive results quickly. As evidence is rooted in the growth pattern of hair, test outcomes are not only timely but boast a high degree of reliability.
Using hair follicle testing in McNair, MS, enhances compliance with workplace drug-free policies significantly. This ensures employers minimize legal liabilities while promoting a safe work atmosphere.
This form of testing brings peace of mind, with results that align with strict regulatory and company standards, supporting employers' efforts in fostering substance-free environments.
