Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair fibers capture biomarkers over time, offering a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug use. Hair collected near the scalp can reveal substance use patterns over a span of roughly three months, making it both easy to gather and hard to tamper with, as well as simple to transport.
A sample comprising 1.5 inches and about 200 hair strands (approximately equivalent to a #2 pencil's diameter) from the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and confirming. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding ten, a sample of 150mg is advised. It's beneficial to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent weight of body hair can be used. Note that "head hair" strictly refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses other types such as facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The laboratory process for evaluating a drug test result encompasses four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
In the Accessioning phase, a sample is first recorded into the laboratory’s system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addresses any additional data needed that an electronic chain of custody system may not supply.
Screening is an initial step to quickly check for the presence of drugs. While this method is cost-effective for dismissing drug use in most cases, any positive results from Screening must be confirmed for legal acceptability, necessitating further verification for any presumptive positives found.
If a sample is tentatively positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for further analysis. Drugs are separated from hair here at much lower concentrations compared to other testing methods like urine or oral fluids, making hair drug analysis the most challenging method.
A positive Screening result undergoes Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that are presumptively positive are cleansed before Confirmation is performed, if necessary. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", this test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle located beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Santa Anna, TX?
Extended Detection Window in Santa Anna, TX, is a key feature of hair follicle tests. Employers gain a thorough understanding of substance use history with a detection period reaching 90 days.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Santa Anna, TX, significantly lowers the possibility of sample tampering. Hair follicle tests deliver dependable and irrefutable findings.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations as well as local options in Santa Anna, TX, offer easy access to testing services. With numerous centers, hair testing becomes quick and hassle-free wherever you are.
Simple, Confidential Process in Santa Anna, TX, defines the procedure of hair follicle testing. From ordering tests to receiving results, the process maintains confidentiality, addressing privacy concerns effectively.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Santa Anna, TX, makes hair follicle testing a valuable option. Competitive pricing structures accommodate businesses of all sizes, along with rapid result delivery.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Santa Anna, TX, are guaranteed with hair follicle drug tests. Known for their precision, these tests quickly provide results that are highly accurate in identifying substance use.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Santa Anna, TX, is ensured through hair follicle testing. By adhering to drug-free workplace policies, employers mitigate legal risks and elevate workplace safety.