Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Testing hair has emerged as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture a historical record of substance usage, securing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strands. Collected near the scalp, hair offers roughly a three-month window for detecting drugs and alcohol. It's straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
An ideal screening and confirmation specimen requires a 1.5-inch sample comprising about 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil), providing 100mg. For tests including EtG, add-ons, or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We advocate using a jeweler’s scale for precise weighing of the specimen. If scalp hair can't be obtained, a matching quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" pertains solely to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).
Process Overview
The laboratory process for a drug test result involves four critical steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
During Accessioning, a sample enters the laboratory’s system and undergoes initial processing. This step ensures correct sample sealing and shipping, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and handles any extra data input not covered by an electronic custody system.
Screening offers an initial assessment for drug abuse. It's a cost-effective preliminary method to rule out drug use in most cases; however, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Presumptive positives in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.
Should a sample be presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen for further processing in Extraction. Here, drugs in hair are isolated at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine, oral fluid), making hair drug screening a complex process.
Any positive screening outcomes are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing as necessary before confirmation. The comprehensive lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests," these analyze the strand itself, not the under-scalp follicle.
In the comparison between hair follicle and urine testing in Millstone, NJ, hair tests come out on top due to superior detection capabilities. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing ensures prolonged accuracy and offers comprehensive insights into drug use, making it a preferred choice for many employers and legal bodies.
The hair follicle drug test provides clarity into a subject's history with an impressive detection window up to 90 days, surpassing traditional methods. For employers in Millstone, NJ, this provides a more complete view of an individual's drug use history, aiding critical employment decisions and ensuring a safer workplace environment.
Hair follicle testing in Millstone, NJ, significantly reduces the potential for tampering, ensuring sample integrity. This method offers reliability that is hard to contest, creating a robust screening process that stands up to scrutiny and eliminates doubts about sample authenticity.
For those in Millstone, NJ, and nationwide, the convenience of available drug testing centers is unmatched. With numerous locations, the process is streamlined, allowing for easy and hassle-free access to hair follicle testing, ensuring individuals and employers receive timely and efficient service.
In Millstone, NJ, the process of hair follicle drug testing is designed to be straightforward and private. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step is crafted to ensure ease and confidentiality, addressing user concerns about privacy and usability effectively.
Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, hair follicle drug testing in Millstone, NJ, proves cost-effective while ensuring promptness. This balance of affordability and swift service provides companies, regardless of size, with both value and confidence in their testing needs.
The hallmark of hair follicle drug testing in Millstone, NJ, is its remarkable precision and efficiency. This method stands out with its high accuracy when detecting substance use, ensuring that results are both swift and reliable. Local facilities pride themselves on delivering fast outcomes without compromising on the authenticity of test results, helping stakeholders make informed decisions promptly.
Employers in Millstone, NJ, find peace of mind in hair follicle drug testing, as it aids in abiding by workplace drug-free policies. By integrating hair testing, organizations can reduce legal liabilities while maintaining a safe and compliant work environment, reassuring both employees and employers alike.
