Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as a formidable method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of drugs and alcohol by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the expanding hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair may offer approximately a 90-day detection span for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch sample containing about 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the prime sample for analysis and confirmation. For assessments such as EtG, supplementary tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent portion of body hair can be gathered. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The lab processing of a drug test result involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into the lab’s framework. This encompasses checking that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any further data entry missing from an electronic custody chain.
Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be authenticated for court acceptance. Samples that are tentatively positive in Screening demand an additional confirmation.
If a specimen appears positive in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. At this juncture, drugs are drawn from hair at much reduced concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging procedure.
Confirmation of any tentative positive screening is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All tentative positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in North Tonawanda, NY: Hair testing outshines conventional urine tests due to its superior detection period and reliability. While urine tests might detect recent drug use, hair follicle tests cover a broader timeframe and offer greater accuracy, making it the preferred choice for many institutions.
Extended Detection Window in North Tonawanda, NY: The ability of hair follicle tests to identify drug use over close to 90 days provides employers with a thorough understanding of an employee or candidate's drug history, crucial for informed hiring and retention decisions.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in North Tonawanda, NY: Hair follicle tests are far less susceptible to tampering compared to other methods, offering dependable and indisputable results by neutralizing the risk of sample adulteration.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in North Tonawanda, NY: With our expansive network of testing centers, obtaining a test is seamless and stress-free, offering quick access to our services across numerous locations.
Simple, Confidential Process in North Tonawanda, NY: Our testing process is straightforward and confidential, ensuring ease of ordering, testing, and result retrieval while safeguarding privacy and comfort throughout.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in North Tonawanda, NY: Enjoy competitive pricing matched with swift turnaround times, enabling businesses of all scales to benefit from cost-efficiency and rapid results provision.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in North Tonawanda, NY: Hair follicle drug tests offer a rapid and precise method for identifying substance use. The accuracy of these tests in detecting drugs ensures reliable outcomes that help businesses and individuals make informed decisions with confidence.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in North Tonawanda, NY: Implementing hair follicle testing helps maintain adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizes legal liabilities, and promotes a safer working environment.
