Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is now recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a lasting record of alcohol and drug use by ensnaring biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection span of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
An approximately 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation procedures. For assessments like EtG, additional tests, or testing exceeding 10 panels, collecting 150mg of the sample is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, a corresponding quantity of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test outcome encompasses four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning consists of the preliminary handling of a sample within the laboratory’s system. This step includes ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, allotting a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data input that is absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to dismiss drug use for most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid legally. Any samples that yield a presumptive positive in Screening demand secondary confirmation.
When a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, extra hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations significantly lower than other techniques (like urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is considered the most intricate methodology to conduct.
Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive specimens are washed as needed. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is conducted under the supervision of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis concerns the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Summerland, MS
When comparing drug testing methods, hair follicle tests stand out for several reasons.
Extended Detection Window in Summerland, MS
Hair follicle testing has revolutionized the way drug use is identified.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Summerland, MS
Ensuring the integrity of drug test results is paramount.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Summerland, MS
Finding a testing center has never been easier.
Simple, Confidential Process in Summerland, MS
The steps for testing are straightforward and private.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Summerland, MS
Our testing services balance quality and affordability.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Summerland, MS
Hair follicle drug testing offers unparalleled precision and reliability.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Summerland, MS
Maintaining a drug-free workplace is crucial.
