Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly regarded as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair stores a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 3-month window of detection for substances like alcohol and drugs. It's straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprised of roughly 200 strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil), located closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, regarded as the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For tests involving EtG, additional components, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen weighing 150mg is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent volume of body hair may be used. When we refer to head hair, it implies only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other types like facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The laboratory's drug test result processing comprises four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample within the laboratory framework. This step involves ensuring the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data entry absent from the electronic chain of custody system.
Screening denotes an initial swift inspection for substance abuse. Screening stands as a cost-efficient means to exclude drug usage in most samples; however, any positive screen must be corroborated for courtroom admissibility. Samples presumed positive during Screening necessitate further confirmation.
If a Screening stage yields a presumptive positive result, additional hair from the original sample is prepared for Extraction. In this segment, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.
Positive screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all samples with presumptive positives undergo washing as required. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited by ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", these tests evaluate the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp
Ensuring accuracy and comprehensiveness, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in Cape Carteret, NC. Hair testing showcases superior detection capabilities by identifying substance use over extended periods.
Unlike urine tests, which are limited in their detection windows, hair follicle testing offers reliable insights due to its prolonged detection capacity. Furthermore, it's gained favor due to its effectiveness against attempts to tamper with results.
With the extended detection capability, hair follicle testing provides a 90-day window, which is significantly longer than other drug testing methods in Cape Carteret, NC. This gives employers a thorough understanding of an individual’s substance use history.
The extended window captures persistent use patterns, critical for workplaces prioritizing safety and compliance. Through hair analysis, past behaviors and trends become more transparent, aiding in informed employment decisions.
Hair follicle testing in Cape Carteret, NC significantly minimizes the potential for sample tampering, resulting in highly reliable outcomes. This test method stands strong against attempts to alter or falsify results.
Its resistance to manipulation ensures that results are consistent and credible, making it an ideal choice for employers and legal institutions determined to maintain high standards of integrity in drug testing.
Accredited Drug Testing guarantees accessibility with testing centers throughout Cape Carteret, NC, and nationwide. This network facilitates efficient and straightforward drug testing services for individuals and businesses.
Convenience is a cornerstone of our service, ensuring that drug testing is not only accessible but also conducted in a timely manner, maintaining the highest quality standards in Cape Carteret and beyond.
The hair follicle testing procedure in Cape Carteret, NC is straightforward and confidential, safeguarding participants' privacy from initial testing through result delivery.
This ease of use assures participants of both discretion and clarity, reinforcing trust through a process designed to address privacy while delivering precise outcomes efficiently.
Our competitive pricing structure and rapid result delivery in Cape Carteret, NC, offer outstanding value to companies of all sizes, making drug testing efficient and accessible.
With costs kept economical and turnarounds swift, businesses can prioritize drug-free environments without compromising on speed or quality, ensuring comprehensive solutions at a fair price.
In Cape Carteret, NC, hair follicle tests offer unparalleled precision and rapidity in drug screening. These tests stand out for their high accuracy in identifying recent substance usage, giving clear insights into behavioral patterns.
The reliability of hair follicle testing lies in its ability to effectively detect various drugs without the common pitfalls associated with other methodologies. These tests provide confidence with their speed and consistency, crucial for informed decision-making.
Employers in Cape Carteret, NC can find assurance in hair follicle testing, which ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies, thereby boosting safety and reducing potential legal issues.
Offering a peace of mind that only compliant testing can provide, hair follicle analysis supports a secure environment where policies are effectively upheld, and health risks are minimized.
