Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as a robust means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of exposure to alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the hair's fibers as it grows. When hair is gathered near the scalp, it offers up to a 3-month detection time frame for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to send for analysis.
A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for basic and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additional tests, and tests surpassing 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is suggested. If head hair is not accessible, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. "Head hair" exclusively refers to scalp hair. "Body hair" refers to all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The principal steps in processing a drug test in a lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning comprises the primary intake of a sample into the lab's system. This step involves verifying the sample’s seal and shipment integrity, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening is a preliminary swift analysis for any drugs of abuse. Though Screening is a cost-effective approach to eliminate drug use on most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be legally valid. Samples yielding a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.
If the Screening stage indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is taken from the initial specimen for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from the hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), emphasizing why hair drug screening is highly challenging.
Confirmation for any screening positives is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation as required, all presumptive samples are thoroughly cleansed. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and follows ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Though often described as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
When comparing hair and urine tests in Estill Springs, TN, hair testing stands out for its accuracy and reliability. Hair follicle testing can detect substances that might be missed by standard urine analyses, providing a more comprehensive and dependable assessment. This helps employers maintain stricter compliance with zero-tolerance policies.
The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Estill Springs, TN makes them ideal for monitoring long-term drug usage. Capturing up to 90 days of an individual’s substance history, these tests give employers a thorough insight into an employee or applicant’s background, thereby supporting informed hiring decisions.
Hair follicle testing in Estill Springs, TN is notably resistant to tampering, offering reliable results that are hard to dispute. The testing process substantially minimizes risks of sample adulteration, ensuring that the integrity of the results stands strong against any attempts at manipulation.
The convenience of testing centers nationwide, including in Estill Springs, TN, is a major advantage of partnering with Accredited Drug Testing. This extensive network ensures quick and hassle-free access to essential testing services, accommodating employers and individuals alike with minimal inconvenience.
With a straightforward and confidential procedure, hair follicle testing in Estill Springs, TN guarantees ease and privacy. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that the entire process, from ordering to receiving results, respects client confidentiality while being user-friendly and efficient.
Offering competitive prices and speedy results, Accredited Drug Testing in Estill Springs, TN delivers significant value. The affordable pricing structure and fast turnaround times make it a pragmatic choice for businesses of all sizes, keen on managing costs while maintaining rigorous drug testing standards.
The hair follicle testing process in Estill Springs, TN offers unparalleled precision, delivering highly accurate results swiftly. Accredited Drug Testing ensures rapid turnaround without compromising reliability, making it an ideal choice for detecting substance use. The method's reliability underlines its superiority over other testing modalities.
Employers in Estill Springs, TN find peace of mind through hair follicle testing as it aligns with drug-free workplace policies. By using this testing method, companies can effectively reduce legal risks associated with substance abuse in the workplace and bolster overall safety standards.
