Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as a potent method for identifying the use of alcohol and drugs. Hair captures a comprehensive history of drug and alcohol use by embedding biomarkers in its growing fibers. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer approximately a 3-month detection window for alcohol and various drugs. It is easy to collect, difficult to tamper with, and straightforward to ship.
A sample of 1.5 inches of around 200 strands of hair (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp would yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or evaluations beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is preferred. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The four fundamental stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory system. This step involves ensuring the sample was securely sealed and appropriately shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data input not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to dismiss drug use in most samples, positive screens require confirmation to be valid in legal contexts. Any samples that appear positive in Screening demand secondary confirmation.
Should a sample appear positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate method to execute.
Verification of any positive screen result is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: While commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself and not the follicle located beneath the scalp.
In Wilmore, PA, hair follicle testing outshines urine tests by showing superior detection accuracy.
Hair follicle tests in Wilmore, PA excel with a prolonged detection window of up to 90 days.
The hair follicle testing technique in Wilmore, PA reduces risks associated with sample tampering.
The convenient presence of nationwide and local testing centers in Wilmore, PA offers easy access to testing services.
Hair follicle testing in Wilmore, PA involves a streamlined and confidential process.
Wilmore, PA offers hair follicle testing with competitive pricing and swift turnaround times.
The hair follicle drug test in Wilmore, PA ensures swift, precise, and trustworthy outcomes. High accuracy in identifying substance use makes it a preferred choice.
Utilizing hair follicle tests in Wilmore, PA ensures compliance with workplace policies.
