Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as a robust instrument for detecting substance and alcohol usage. Hair offers an extensive timeline of drug and alcohol exposure by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken from near the scalp, hair reveals up to an approximate three-month period for the discovery of alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A 1.5-inch sample of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal quantity for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or for test panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It is suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If head hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. In context, head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four primary phases in lab processing a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s database. This encompasses ensuring the sample was secured and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as a preliminary swift check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result must be validated to be court-admissible. Samples presumed positive in Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation.
If Screening suggests a sample is positive, more hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are removed from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.
Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and meets the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Benefits of hair drug testing:
Drawbacks:
Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis itself assesses the hair strand, not the root beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Pinckneyville, MS stands superior to traditional urine analysis because of its unmatched detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests track substance use over an extended time, offering enhanced insight into a person's drug history. This makes them invaluable tools for ensuring compliance with zero-tolerance policies and maintaining a drug-free environment.
Employers in Pinckneyville, MS benefit from the extended detection capability of hair follicle testing, which evaluates drug use over a significant span of up to 90 days. This test provides comprehensive insights into an individual's substance history, proving invaluable for employers seeking to understand long-term patterns in drug use and ensuring workplace safety.
In Pinckneyville, MS, hair follicle testing is lauded for its tamper-resistant qualities. By considerably mitigating the risk of sample adulteration, these tests provide dependable results that are difficult to contest. Their design eliminates opportunities for manipulation, ensuring the authenticity of the test outcomes.
The convenience of nationwide and local testing centers in Pinckneyville, MS simplifies access to hair follicle testing services. Offering swift and hassle-free testing processes, individuals and employers alike benefit from the ease with which these services can be accessed, ensuring prompt and efficient testing.
In Pinckneyville, MS, the hair follicle test process is both simple and confidential. From ordering to results, concerns about privacy and ease of use are addressed, allowing individuals and businesses to undertake testing with confidence, knowing their privacy is prioritized throughout the procedure.
With competitive pricing structures and fast turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Pinckneyville, MS provides excellent value for businesses of all sizes. The swift receipt of reliable results reinforces confidence in decision-making processes, offering both affordability and peace of mind.
In Pinckneyville, MS, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their swiftness, accuracy, and dependability. These tests provide high precision in recognizing substance use, making them indispensable for reliable detection. With efficient processing methods, results are delivered rapidly, ensuring timely decision-making for employers and stakeholders seeking foolproof results.
Employers in Pinckneyville, MS find peace of mind with hair follicle testing by aligning with workplace drug-free policies. This method helps minimize legal risks and promotes workplace safety through thorough and consistent screening practices, leading to an assured and compliant working environment.