Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within its growing strands. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and other drugs. The collection process for hair is straightforward, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hairs (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) close to the scalp offers 100mg of hair, which is the standard sample size for analysis. For tests like EtG, add-ons, or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is beneficial to measure the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair can't be obtained, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other hair like facial or axillary hair.
Process Overview
The drug testing lab process consists of four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the initial handling of a sample within a lab's system. This step verifies that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and covers any necessary data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary test for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly way to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive finding requires confirmation to be legally valid in court. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation.
If a sample shows presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods such as urine or oral fluid. This makes hair drug screening one of the more technically challenging methods.
Confirmation of any positive Screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Presumptive positive samples undergo cleansing prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and conforms to ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", these tests actually assess the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp
In the debate of hair versus urine drug testing in New Miami, OH, hair tests offer superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests are more traditional, hair follicle testing shines in its ability to detect a broader range of substances over a longer period, effectively capturing ongoing substance use.
The hair follicle test offers an extended detection window, capturing up to 90 days of drug use in New Miami, OH. This allows employers to thoroughly understand an applicant or employee's substance use history, presenting a panorama of their lifestyle choices beyond recent or isolated incidents.
In New Miami, OH, hair follicle testing stands out as an exceptional tamper-resistant drug testing method. The integrity of the hair sample reduces risks of sample manipulation, ensuring results are both reliable and beyond question, thus safeguarding the accuracy of drug testing programs.
With our nationwide testing centers, including those in New Miami, OH, accessing hair drug testing services is swift and hassle-free. The convenience offered ensures businesses and individuals alike can experience streamlined testing processes without travel or location-based stress.
In New Miami, OH, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, each step is designed to prioritize privacy and ease of use, addressing common concerns head-on and ensuring client confidence in the seamless testing experience.
Our competitive pricing structures in New Miami, OH, coupled with fast turnaround times, provide significant value for businesses of all sizes. The affordability and speed of our hair follicle testing ensure companies can maintain effective drug-free policies without financial strain.
The hair follicle drug test in New Miami, OH, offers fast, accurate, and reliable results. Its precision in detecting substance use ensures employers receive dependable data swiftly, allowing immediate decision-making and safeguarding workplace integrity without compromise.
Hair follicle testing in New Miami, OH, provides employers with peace of mind by ensuring strict compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method significantly reduces legal risks and enhances workplace safety, offering a dependable solution for comprehensive substance monitoring.
