Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. The hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil thickness) closest to the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, the ideal quantity for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair is advised. It is suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it refers exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This involves ensuring the sample's proper sealing and transport, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary test for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient approach to disprove drug use on most samples, a positive screen must be validated for court acceptance. All samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.
If a sample indicates a presumptive positive during Screening, more hair is taken from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from the hair at a considerably lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening is among the most challenging methodologies.
Confirmation of any positive screen result is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test itself assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Cliffwood Beach, NJ, offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests. The primary benefit is its superior detection accuracy and reliability, which is preferred by many employers and legal entities.
Unlike urine tests, hair testing can detect a longer history of drug use. This makes it an invaluable tool for organizations enacting strict drug-free policies.
Hair follicle testing in Cliffwood Beach, NJ provides an extensive detection window, identifying drug use up to 90 days prior. This enables employers to gain a detailed understanding of an applicant's or employee's substance history.
The long detection range distinguishes hair tests from other methods, assisting organizations in making informed hiring and management decisions.
In Cliffwood Beach, NJ, the hair follicle test is a tamper-resistant method that minimizes the chance of sample adulteration, ensuring trustworthy results.
Employers and professionals regard hair testing as a highly dependable solution, given its rigorous collection process and resilience against tampering.
The availability of convenient testing centers both nationwide and in Cliffwood Beach, NJ ensures easy access to hair follicle testing services.
These centers are designed to provide quick and seamless testing experiences, eliminating hassles for individuals and organizations needing reliable services.
In Cliffwood Beach, NJ, the process for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is streamlined, addressing privacy concerns effectively.
This user-friendly experience ensures that individuals can undergo testing without apprehension regarding confidentiality or complexity.
Hair follicle testing in Cliffwood Beach, NJ, offers competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, providing great value for companies of every size.
The affordable pricing structure combined with fast results delivery gives businesses a practical solution for meeting their testing needs effectively.
In Cliffwood Beach, NJ, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, precise, and dependable results. Unlike other testing methods, hair testing stands out for its rapid and accurate detection capabilities, making it highly reliable for identifying substance usage.
Employers and authorities rely on hair follicle testing due to its quick processing time. This ensures timely results which are crucial in maintaining workplace safety and compliance.
Hair follicle testing in Cliffwood Beach, NJ, aids employers in adhering to drug-free workplace policies, enhancing peace of mind by lowering legal risks.
Implementing hair tests helps safeguard the workplace environment, offering both compliance and reassurance for businesses and employees alike.
