Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and drug usage by capturing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When gathered near the scalp, hair can indicate a detection timeline of roughly three months for substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, fairly challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch section made up of around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) located closest to the scalp yields 100mg, an ideal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments that exceed 10 panels, obtaining 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's recommended to measure the sample weight on a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair is acceptable. Note that when referring to head hair, it specifically means scalp hair, while body hair signifies all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The critical stages in processing a drug test in a lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the preliminary stage of entering a sample into the lab system. Tasks include confirming that the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing necessary data entry not accommodated by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening offers a preliminary check for substance presence. This cost-efficient process helps eliminate negative samples; however, any positive results require further confirmation to be legally valid. Samples showing presumptively positive results in Screening must undergo additional confirmation.
Should a sample show a presumptive positive during Screening, more hair is selected from the original batch for Extraction. This process extracts drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid analysis, presenting unique challenges in hair drug testing.
Positive Screening samples require Confirmation, conducted with methods such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, presumptive positives are washed as necessary. The entire laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Despite being commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
In Holiday Valley, OH, hair follicle testing offers a distinct advantage over traditional urine testing. While both methods can detect substance use, hair follicle testing provides superior detection accuracy, effectively monitoring drug use history over extended periods and ensuring reliability in maintaining safe work environments.
The comparison shows that hair testing stands out by ignoring short detection limits, unlike urine tests affected by immediate use.
Extended detection windows make hair follicle testing a standout option in Holiday Valley, OH. Unlike other methods, this approach captures drug use history up to 90 days past, offering employers an in-depth view of a person's substance habits.
Surely advantageous, this longer timeline ensures a comprehensive assessment, allowing employers to make informed decisions when reviewing an individual’s substance history during screening.
At Holiday Valley, OH, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests ensures the integrity of results. This testing method significantly decreases the risk of sample adulteration, providing results that are not only reliable but also unquestionable for employers needing accuracy.
Such precision confirms the test's validity, making it a trusted choice for complex evaluations where reducing manipulation is vital.
With nationwide testing centers spread across cities including Holiday Valley, OH, the convenience for sample collection is unmatched. We ensure quick and hassle-free access to all testing services, making it seamless for clients.
Local locations add extra ease, ensuring everyone can benefit from these convenient facilities without encountering commuting difficulties, honoring their need for efficiency.
In Holiday Valley, OH, our simple and confidential process guarantees ease throughout the testing service. From ordering to receiving results, every step prioritizes privacy while streamlining the process for all clients.
Understanding the need for confidentiality, our approach reassures clients that their privacy concerns are handled with utmost care, ensuring a seamless experience from end to finish.
In Holiday Valley, OH, our competitive pricing and fast turnaround on hair follicle drug testing make it a valuable choice for companies. We prioritize delivering excellent value, with prompt services ensuring peace of mind for diverse organizations.
Not only affordable, our pricing structure caters to varying budgets, maintaining quality and efficiency across all testing services offered.
Hair follicle drug tests offer fast and accurate results in Holiday Valley, OH. Their precision in detecting substance use is unmatched, with every test providing reliable and quick feedback that employers can trust.
The speed at which test results are delivered ensures prompt decision-making for critical situations, all made possible through efficient processing
Employers in Holiday Valley, OH can experience enhanced peace of mind by utilizing hair follicle testing. This method aids in aligning with drug-free workplace policies, thus minimizing legal risks while promoting a safer work environment.
Complying with such policies boosts organizational integrity, ensuring all processes run smoothly, without jeopardizing employee safety or policy adherence.
