Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair assessments have emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a prolonged record of drug and alcohol intake, capturing markers within the strands' fibers as they grow. When extracted near the scalp, a hair sample can reveal drug and alcohol use over a period of up to three months. It's easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.
Collecting a 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (around the width of a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG or additional tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is recommended. Using a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample is advisable. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent body hair sample may be taken. When we mention head hair, it strictly refers to scalp hair; body hair includes all other varieties (such as facial or axillary hair).
Process Overview
There are four essential phases in the laboratory handling of a drug test outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the sample's initial entry into the lab's system. This step involves ensuring the sample is securely sealed and dispatched, assigning a Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any pending data entry not covered by an electronic custody chain system.
Screening offers a preliminary evaluation for drugs of misuse. Though it's an economical approach to exclude drug usage in most cases, a positive finding in Screening requires confirmation to be legally valid. Samples that test positive during Screening need further verification.
When a screening indicates a presumptive positive result, additional hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are retrieved from hair at much lower concentrations than what other methods like urine or oral fluid manage, making hair drug assessments one of the most challenging techniques to execute.
Positive screening results undergo verification using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The full lab procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation conforms to the CAP's Hair designation and the standards set by ISO / IEC 17025.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", this test evaluates the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the skin.
When comparing drug testing methods, hair follicle tests in Dana, NC generally outperform urine tests. Hair testing boasts superior detection capabilities, identifying substances long after use.
Unlike urine tests, hair tests offer a more reliable means of verifying substance use over an extended timeline. This enhances confidence in the results provided.
Hair follicle testing in Dana, NC provides an extended window for detecting drug use, often up to 90 days. This long detection period offers a more complete picture of an individual's substance history.
Employers gain invaluable insights into an employee's habits, offering them a broader understanding of possible drug use and enhancing informed decision-making.
Tamper resistance is a key advantage of hair follicle testing in Dana, NC. This method minimizes risks of sample adulteration, providing reliable results.
The inherent difficulty in altering hair samples ensures that test outcomes are trustworthy, offering peace of mind to employers and individuals alike.
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenience with testing centers available nationwide and locally in Dana, NC, making access to drug testing services straightforward and hassle-free.
This expansive network allows for prompt testing services, aiding organizations and individuals in their drug testing needs.
The process of hair follicle testing in Dana, NC is designed to be simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is streamlined to ensure client privacy and convenience.
This straightforward approach addresses privacy concerns, providing comfort and ease of use throughout the testing journey.
Accredited Drug Testing in Dana, NC offers competitive pricing for hair follicle tests alongside fast turnaround times, delivering excellent value to businesses.
Our efficient service model ensures speedy results, aiding companies of all sizes in meeting their drug testing requirements economically.
In Dana, NC, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their speed and accuracy. These tests quickly ascertain substance use with a high level of precision, making them a preferred choice among many.
The reliability of hair follicle testing ensures fast results, allowing timely decision-making. Their efficiency helps reduce waiting times, facilitating a seamless testing experience.
For employers in Dana, NC, hair follicle testing supports compliance with drug-free workplace policies, enhancing safety and reducing legal risks.
This testing method provides peace of mind by aligning with regulatory expectations, ensuring a safer and more productive work environment.
