Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now recognized as an influential method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended profile of alcohol and drug ingestion by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken close to the scalp, it can offer a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, less susceptible to tampering, and can be transported with ease.
A 1.5-inch portion consisting of roughly 200 strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp produces 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for analysis and verification. For EtG, supplemental tests, or when testing exceeds 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is suggested. It's advisable to measure the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent portion of body hair can be used. Reference to head hair indicates only scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The process of analyzing a drug test result in a laboratory includes four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the first phase involving the sample's entry into the lab system. This process ensures the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes additional data entries not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial quick check for substances of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to negate drug use in most samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation for court admissibility. Samples that test presumptively positive require a secondary confirmation.
For samples that test presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is retrieved from the original specimen to prepare for Extraction. This phase involves isolating drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug analysis the most challenging to execute.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples testing presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation if required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Hodges, MT, hair follicle testing provides distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. With superior detection accuracy and reliability, hair tests demonstrate a more comprehensive method for drug screening.
Employers in Hodges, MT, benefit from the extended detection window provided by hair follicle testing. This approach can reveal drug use over a much longer span, up to 90 days, giving a more thorough overview of an individual’s substance history.
Hair follicle tests in Hodges, MT, are inherently tamper-resistant, greatly minimizing the threat of sample adulteration. This ensures that the results delivered are both reliable and unquestionable, enhancing overall testing integrity.
Convenience is key in drug testing, and in Hodges, MT, our nationwide network of testing centers, including local options, allows for fast, easy, and hassle-free access to testing services.
In Hodges, MT, the procedure for ordering, conducting, and receiving hair follicle test results is designed to be straightforward and confidential, ensuring privacy while offering ease of access.
Our services in Hodges, MT, stand out with competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times. This combination ensures excellent value while providing peace of mind for organizations of all sizes.
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled. In Hodges, MT, these tests are celebrated for their high accuracy in identifying substance use. By delivering both rapid and reliable outcomes, they offer an invaluable tool for various testing needs.
For employers in Hodges, MT, employing hair follicle testing signifies adherence to drug-free workplace guidelines, reducing legal risks and fostering a safer work environment.
