Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When sampled near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easily transportable.
A hair sample of 1.5 inches, approximately 200 strands or the thickness of a #2 pencil, near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for testing. For EtG, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is preferred. It is recommended to use a jeweler’s scale for measurement. If scalp hair isn't available, a corresponding amount of body hair may be utilized. 'Head hair' refers strictly to scalp hair, while 'body hair' includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four fundamental steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the initial incorporation of a sample into the lab's system, ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any remaining data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary check for the presence of drugs. While Screening is a cost-efficient means of excluding drug use in most samples, a positive result from Screening must be confirmed for court admissibility. Any samples that are tentatively positive need an additional confirmation.
When a sample is tentatively positive during Screening, more hair is taken from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are retrieved from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex procedure to conduct.
Confirmation of positive Screening results is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are tentatively positive undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The full process from Accessioning through Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand itself rather than the follicle located beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Uniontown, OH: Compared to traditional urine tests, hair testing provides superior detection accuracy and reliability, making it the preferred choice in drug testing procedures.
Extended Detection Window in Uniontown, OH: Hair follicle testing identifies drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days for a full overview of an employee's drug history.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Uniontown, OH: Hair follicle tests significantly reduce the risk of sample tampering, ensuring results are dependable and unquestionable.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Uniontown, OH: Our extensive network of testing centers provides easy and hassle-free access to necessary testing services.
Simple, Confidential Process in Uniontown, OH: The process for ordering, conducting, and obtaining results is straightforward and private, addressing concerns about privacy and user-friendliness.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Uniontown, OH: Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround offer excellent value and peace of mind for companies of all sizes.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Uniontown, OH: Hair follicle drug testing offers superior precision and speed in detecting substance use. This testing method stands out for its high accuracy, ensuring reliable results.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Uniontown, OH: Hair follicle testing ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies, mitigating legal liabilities and boosting workplace safety.
