Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
The use of hair testing has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer a lengthy timeline of alcohol and drug usage by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair. When samples are taken from near the scalp, they can display up to a three-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, not easily tampered with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch hair segment comprising around 200 strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or testing beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is suggested. It is advised to measure the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result entails four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning includes the preliminary handling of a sample into a lab’s system. This entails confirming that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a rapid preliminary check for substances of misuse. Although Screening provides a cost-effective means of dismissing drug use in most samples, a positive screen needs confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that show presumptive positives during Screening require a confirmatory test.
When a sample indicates a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is pulled from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this step, drugs are removed from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is recognized as the most challenging method to conduct.
Confirmatory analysis of positive Screening results is completed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are washed before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation compliant with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently mentioned as "hair follicle tests," the analysis pertains to the hair strand itself and not the follicle under the scalp.
Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Nathalie, VA is primarily due to the superior detection reliability that hair testing provides. Unlike urine tests, hair follicle evaluations are less susceptible to evasion tactics and can detect drug usage over a more extended period, making them a preferred choice for thorough scrutiny.
Extended Detection Window offered by hair follicle testing in Nathalie, VA reaches up to a 90-day period. This allows employers to get a more comprehensive view of an individual's drug use history, which isn't possible with shorter-term tests, providing deeper insights.
Tamper-Resistant Testing Method used in Nathalie, VA through hair follicle tests minimizes risks of sample tampering or adulteration. This ensures that results are reliable and beyond reproach, a critical factor for organizations needing steadfast and valid results.
Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations in Nathalie, VA offer easy access to hair drug testing services, ensuring that you can get tested without any hassle. Our widespread centers provide quick and efficient solutions, accommodating more clients smoothly.
Simple, Confidential Process in Nathalie, VA prioritizes privacy and ease when it comes to ordering and receiving hair test results. The straightforward, secure method we implement guarantees confidentiality from start to finish.
Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Nathalie, VA ensures that businesses of all sizes can benefit from competitive pricing and swift result delivery without compromising quality or reliability, promising excellent value.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results across Nathalie, VA ensure that our hair follicle tests provide not only quick but precise detection of drug use. This method boasts a high level of accuracy, capturing substance use efficiently and offering timely insights to entities relying on the results for decision-making processes.
Compliance and Peace of Mind for employers in Nathalie, VA is achieved with hair follicle tests that help maintain adherence to drug-free policies. This approach reduces legal liabilities and enhances overall workplace security, making it a wise decision for company evaluation protocols.
