Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is increasingly regarded as a robust mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol use. The hair acts as a historical repository for alcohol and drug consumption by capturing biomarkers within the growing hair shaft. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window for up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Collection of hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.
A 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 hair strands (closely matching the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. We advocate measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. 'Head hair' pertains to scalp hair exclusively, whereas 'body hair' encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four principal phases in the laboratory processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab’s system. This step includes checking that the sample has been properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from the electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of a swift preliminary analysis for drugs of abuse. While it is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive result from Screening needs confirmation for judicial acceptability. Any samples presumed positive in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.
If a sample is presumed positive during the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are drawn from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.
Confirmation of any positive Screening result is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a presumptive positive result undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", the focus is on analyzing the hair strand itself rather than the hair follicle embedded in the scalp.
In contrast to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing in Plymouth Meeting, PA, proves to be more accurate and reliable.
Employers find this advantageous, allowing them to enforce stringent drug-free policies effectively.
Hair follicle testing in Plymouth Meeting, PA, provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days.
Such extensive insight helps in making informed hiring decisions for a safe workplace.
Reducing the risk of sample adulteration, hair follicle tests in Plymouth Meeting, PA, ensure results are unquestionably reliable.
It's a secure choice for those requiring accurate drug testing solutions.
Accessing drug testing in Plymouth Meeting, PA, is convenient with our nationwide centers.
This widespread availability enhances the client's testing experience.
Our process in Plymouth Meeting, PA, for hair follicle testing is simple and confidential, prioritizing ease of use and privacy.
This approach makes drug testing stress-free and secure.
With competitive pricing in Plymouth Meeting, PA, our hair follicle tests ensure affordable solutions.
This approach offers substantial savings without compromising on quality.
The hair follicle test in Plymouth Meeting, PA, is renowned for its speed and precision. Offering results rapidly, this test is unrivaled in accuracy for detecting drug use.
This dedication to rapid yet precise analysis sets it apart, making drug detection trustworthy and efficient.
In Plymouth Meeting, PA, hair follicle testing aids employers in compliance with workplace drug policies.
This testing choice enhances company integrity and commitment to safety.
