Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extensive timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When clipped near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a three-month period of detection for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and straightforward to send.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 hairs (akin to a #2 pencil’s thickness) close to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample weighing 150mg is advisable. It is suggested to assess the weight of the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair not be available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair relates to other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing drug test outcomes comprises four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning pertains to the primary processing of a specimen within a lab’s system. This step entails ensuring that the sample was correctly sealed and delivered, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data input not available via an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening serves as an initial assessment for substance abuse. While Screening offers a cost-efficient means to exclude drug usage in most samples, positive results necessitate verification to be valid in legal contexts. Samples showing presumptively positive results in Screening must undergo secondary verification.
Should a sample return presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. At this stage, substances are extracted from hair in significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), illustrating why hair drug screening is the most challenging technique to conduct.
Confirmation of any positive Screening findings is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptively positive outcomes are cleansed before undergoing confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the examination appraises the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why choose hair follicle testing over urine testing in Gates, OR? Hair tests boast a higher detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests, offering a reliable assessment of an individual's drug history.
The advantage of hair testing lies in its superior detection capabilities, which are crucial for employers and others seeking precise and consistent results.
Hair follicle testing's extended detection window of up to 90 days offers employers in Gates, OR a detailed view of an individual's drug history. This provides crucial insights for informed decision-making.
This extended period allows for a comprehensive review of an employee's or applicant's substance use, enhancing the accuracy of pre-employment and ongoing evaluations.
In Gates, OR, hair follicle drug tests provide a tamper-resistant testing method, significantly minimizing the risk of sample adulteration.
This method ensures that obtained results are both reliable and unquestionable, safeguarding the integrity of the testing process against manipulation.
Our nationwide testing centers offer convenient access to testing services in Gates, OR, making the process quick and hassle-free. Positioned strategically, these centers ensure easy accessibility when testing is needed.
This expansive network of locations supports timely and efficient service delivery, crucial for the mobility and convenience of clients.
The procedure in Gates, OR, for hair follicle tests is designed to be both simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns and ensuring ease of use.
Ordering, undertaking, and receiving results is straightforward, reassuring clients that their information is protected and handled with care.
Competitive pricing and swift turnaround times characterize our services in Gates, OR. We offer excellent value, appealing to organizations of various sizes.
Our pricing structure is designed to be cost-effective without compromising on the speed and quality of results, serving the diverse needs of our clientele efficiently.
In Gates, OR, hair follicle drug testing prides itself on delivering fast, accurate, and dependable results. The process offers superb accuracy in detecting substance use, ensuring individuals' compliance with regulations.
The precision of hair testing contributes to its reliability when it comes to analyzing past drug use, making it a trustworthy choice for organizations needing precise and timely results.
For employers in Gates, OR, using hair follicle testing helps ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies, providing peace of mind and reducing legal risks.
This testing method bolsters workplace safety measures effectively, maintaining a productive and secure environment for all.
