Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can archive a lengthy overview of alcohol and drug intake by securing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken from near the scalp, hair can indicate alcohol and drug usage for up to three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in diameter to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp produces 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent volume of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" pertains solely to scalp hair, while "body hair" covers all other hair types (such as facial and axillary).
Process Overview
The primary phases in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning encompasses the preliminary treatment of a sample into a lab’s framework. This step ensures that the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any remaining data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody process.
Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation to be valid in court. Any samples with a preliminary positive result in Screening require further confirmation.
If Screening yields a presumptive positive result, extra hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at notably diminished concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis especially challenging to execute.
Any positive screening outcomes undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before Confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 regulations.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly known as "hair follicle tests", these tests actually examine the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Herndon, VA, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing through its superior detection and reliability. Hair tests assess substances over a longer duration, proving more difficult to manipulate, whilst urine tests capture short-term use which may result in less thorough insights.
With hair follicle tests in Herndon, VA, detect substance use up to an impressive 90 days. This long detection window grants employers an expansive overview of an individual's drug history, contributing to more informed decision-making.
Hair follicle tests in Herndon, VA, offer robust protection against tampering. Unlike alternative methods, these tests provide an inherent defense against sample adulteration, ensuring results that are credible and indisputable.
Our extensive network of testing centers, including Herndon, VA, underscores the ease of hair follicle testing. With numerous nationwide sites, access to necessary testing remains straightforward and stress-free.
In Herndon, VA, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential. From test ordering to result delivery, each step is designed to safeguard privacy while ensuring seamless participant experience.
Offering competitive pricing, hair follicle tests in Herndon, VA, present businesses of varying sizes with excellent value. Swift result times complement the cost-effectiveness, ensuring organizations receive timely, high-value service.
Precision and swiftness define hair follicle drug tests in Herndon, VA. With high accuracy, these tests provide dependable detection of substance use, offering results that are both quick and reliable for various requirements.
In Herndon, VA, hair follicle tests contribute to workplace safety by ensuring compliance with drug-free policies. This method assists in mitigating legal risks and enhances overall safety, laying the groundwork for a secure work environment.
