Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The assessment of substances in hair is now acknowledged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a prolonged history of substances as it ensnares biomarkers within its developing strands. Collected close to the scalp, hair offers nearly a 90-day window for detecting alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, resisting tampering to an extent, and is conveniently shippable.
A 1.5-inch length of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in thickness to a #2 pencil) cut nearest the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and verification. For tests like EtG, extended panels above ten, 150mg is advised. The weight of the specimen should be measured on a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent measure of body hair can be used. 'Head hair' refers specifically to scalp hair, while 'body hair' denotes other hair categories (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing for a drug test encompasses four crucial steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is incorporated into a lab’s system. This involves checking that samples are sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any pending data entries absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a cursory assessment for substances of concern. Though it's a cost-wise means to exclude drug use from the majority of samples, confirmation is needed for a positive screen to hold in legal settings. Any sample that tests positive in the Screening phase demands additional confirmation.
If a sample tests positive in Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. Drugs are isolated from hair at a markedly lower concentration compared to other approaches (e.g., urine or saliva), highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing as a methodology.
Confirmation for any positive result from the screening is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that initially test positive are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The progression from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation along with ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the assessment examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing triumphs over urine testing in Seminary, MS, primarily due to its superior accuracy and reliability. While traditional urine tests detect recent usage, hair testing offers an extended detection period. This method provides undeniable precision, making it a preferred choice for various drug screening needs, from employment to legal requirements.
In Seminary, MS, hair follicle testing provides an extensive detection window, capturing drug use history for up to 90 days. This extended timeframe offers employers a thorough overview of an individual’s substance use history, aiding in informed decision-making for job applications and monitoring ongoing employee behavior.
Reducing the chances of adulteration, hair follicle tests in Seminary, MS, offer a tamper-resistant method for drug screening. This ensures that the results are reliable and cannot be easily manipulated. Such rigorous standards contribute to the trust and dependability of the results, making it a preferred choice among employers and institutions.
With testing sites available nationwide, including Seminary, MS, accessing hair follicle drug testing is convenient and hassle-free. Our widespread locations ensure that conducting these tests is straightforward and efficient, accommodating the needs of various clients with ease and reliability.
In Seminary, MS, the process of hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential. From ordering the test to collecting samples and receiving results, every step respects privacy concerns and is designed for user ease. Clients can engage in this secure testing method with confidence, knowing their privacy is maintained throughout.
Providing competitive pricing and rapid results, hair follicle testing in Seminary, MS, presents excellent value for businesses of any size. This approach assures clients of fast turnaround times, reinforcing the dependability and cost-effectiveness of our services in meeting their drug testing needs.
The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests in Seminary, MS, are unrivaled. Their high accuracy in detecting substance use ensures reliable results quickly. Hair testing is an efficient approach that delivers fast, dependable outcomes for employers and individuals alike, highlighting its effectiveness in drug detection.
For employers in Seminary, MS, hair follicle testing provides compliance with workplace drug-free policies, fostering a safer work environment. This testing method mitigates legal risks and illustrates a commitment to employee safety and health, offering peace of mind to employers enforcing these policies.