Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The growth of hair strands entraps biomarkers, thereby offering a lengthy timeline of substance use. When hair is harvested close to the scalp, it can reveal substance use history stretching back up to about three months. Collecting hair samples is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and uncomplicated to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches of nearly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for evaluation and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or screenings exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's suggested to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of hair from the body may be gathered. References to head hair pertain exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties of hair (like facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The sequence of steps in processing a drug test result in a lab includes Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial setup of a sample within a laboratory's system. This step verifies the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data input not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary rapid check for drug substances. Despite being an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be considered valid in legal contexts. Any samples that exhibit preliminary positive results in Screening demand a subsequent confirmation step.
Should a sample exhibit presumptive positivity during the Screening stage, further hair is retrieved from the original specimen for preparation for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentration levels than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), marking hair drug screening as the most complex procedure to execute.
Positive screening results undergo validation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation if required. The whole laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated according to 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 procedure analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing offers critical advantages over urine testing, especially in Birdseye, UT. Hair tests demonstrate superior detection accuracy by analyzing a longer period for drug usage.
Employers gain a broader insight into drug use history with hair testing in Birdseye, UT.
Hair follicle testing in Birdseye, UT, is a secure alternative, drastically minimizing tampering risks. Due to its nature, this method is highly resistant to sample adulteration, ensuring authentic results each time.
With nationwide testing centers, including one in Birdseye, UT, obtaining a hair follicle test is seamless and convenient. Accessibility and efficiency are guaranteed, making the process hassle-free for our clients.
The process of obtaining hair follicle drug test results in Birdseye, UT is simple and discreet. From the initial order to receiving your results, every step is designed with privacy and ease in mind, addressing any confidentiality concerns.
Birdseye, UT offers affordable and swift hair follicle testing options. Competitive pricing combined with fast processing times ensures excellent value, catered to suit businesses of any size with economic efficiency.
In Birdseye, UT, the efficiency and reliability of hair follicle drug testing are unsurpassed. These tests are known for their high precision, capturing substance use with remarkable accuracy.
Speed is another critical factor, providing reliable results faster than many traditional methods.
Employers in Birdseye, UT benefit significantly from hair follicle testing. This method supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal liabilities and enhancing overall safety in the work environment.