Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing has emerged as a formidable instrument for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-standing record of these substances by sequestering biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair shaft. When gathered close to the scalp, it can yield a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for substances. Hair collection is straightforward, comparatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.
A sample measuring 1.5-inch consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will produce 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and verification. For tests involving EtG, add-ons, or panels exceeding 10, a sample weighing 150mg is advised. It is advisable to measure the specimen with a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The primary steps in processing a laboratory drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of the sample into a laboratory's framework. This procedure verifies the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening entails a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive result must be substantiated for it to be permissible in legal contexts. Any samples that are provisionally positive in Screening will necessitate a subsequent confirmation.
Should a sample be provisionally positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are removed from hair at a much lower concentration than with other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluids), which is why hair drug screening ranks as the most challenging method to execute.
Confirmation of any positive Screening results is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All provisionally positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as deemed necessary. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is appraised under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair shaft, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Texon, TX Hair tests outshine traditional urine tests through unparalleled detection accuracy.
Extended Detection Window in Texon, TX Hair follicle testing covers a considerably extended period of drug use detection, reaching up to 90 days.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Texon, TX The integrity of hair follicle tests makes sample tampering extremely difficult, ensuring legitimate results.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Texon, TX Take advantage of our widespread center network, facilitating seamless access to testing services.
Simple, Confidential Process in Texon, TX Our testing system guarantees ease and privacy at every stage.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Texon, TX Our testing solutions offer competitive pricing and rapid results, bringing peace of mind.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Texon, TX Hair follicle tests swiftly provide dependable outcomes, pivotal for accurate substance detection.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Texon, TX Hair follicle tests support compliance with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks.