Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying substance and alcohol usage. Hair captures a prolonged timeline of substance use by retaining biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and other substance presence up to about a 3-month lookout timeframe. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.
A snippet of 1.5 inches, roughly 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's width), cut closest to the scalp yields 100mg, the perfect sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, ancillary tests, and/or evaluations beyond 10 panels, 150mg is advised. We suggest utilizing a jeweler’s scale to determine specimen weight. If head hair is unattainable, an equivalent quantity of body hair is another option. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. In contrast, body hair encompasses all other forms (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The procedural sequence for processing a drug test in a laboratory includes four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning means the initial incorporation of a sample into the lab’s system. This encompasses ensuring the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any remaining data input absent from an electronic chain of custody framework.
Screening denotes an initial succinct evaluation for substances of misuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient means to exclude substance use in most samples, any positive Screen must be confirmed for legal proceedings. Samples preliminarily positive in Screening mandate a secondary confirmation step.
Should a sample suggest a positive result during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. During this phase, substances are isolated from hair at a significantly lesser concentration than in other approaches (such as urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug evaluation is considered particularly complex to execute.
Affirmation of any positive screening outcome is undertaken using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating preliminary positivity are cleansed prior to confirmation when necessary. Both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair qualification and ISO / IEC 17025 standards oversight the comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation.
Benefits of hair drug examinations:
Drawbacks:
Clarification: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination itself evaluates the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. In Richmond, VA, this method outshines by providing higher reliability and accuracy in detection. It's a superior choice for those requiring long-term insights into substance use, as opposed to the short window offered by urine tests, making it a preferred option for companies and organizations committed to holistic drug use evaluations.
Hair follicle testing is a remarkable tool for examining drug use within an extended timeframe, reaching up to 90 days. This capability is invaluable for employers in Richmond, VA, who need a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance history. It captures a wide snapshot of a person's habits, giving insights that short-term tests cannot provide, assisting in making informed employment decisions.
Adopting hair follicle testing in Richmond, VA, greatly minimizes the threat of sample tampering, ensuring result integrity and validity. The testing method is admired for its robustness against adulteration, offering organizations a sense of confidence in the data they receive. It's a reliable choice that stands up to scrutiny, safeguarding the efficacy of the testing process.
Richmond, VA, benefits from the convenience of Accredited Drug Testing's extensive network, ensuring accessible drug testing through our nationwide centers. Whether close by or in metropolitan areas, our services offer quick and hassle-free access, supporting individuals and businesses with a commitment to efficient testing solutions, reflecting our dedication to customer satisfaction.
In Richmond, VA, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, addressing privacy and usability concerns. From order to result delivery, every step is streamlined, ensuring clients experience minimal complication. Test takers feel assured, knowing their information is managed discreetly and that results are delivered quickly without unnecessary hurdles.
Accredited Drug Testing in Richmond, VA, offers competitively priced hair follicle testing with rapid turnaround times, highlighting our value to businesses of varied sizes. Our pricing structure caters to various budgets without compromising on speed and accuracy, providing peace of mind and excellent value in maintaining workplace drug policies effectively.
The hair follicle drug test promises fast and precise results in Richmond, VA. It's a method that stands out for its speedy detection of substance use, offering an accuracy level that ensures reliable results. Professionals looking for a dependable testing mechanism can trust the method for its proven efficacy and promptness.
Employers and agencies in Richmond demand such accuracy to maintain standards of trust and transparency in their evaluations.
Employers in Richmond, VA, achieve compliance and peace of mind by implementing hair follicle testing. This testing approach helps uphold drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal concerns. It strengthens workplace safety and security, providing a valuable tool for organizations determined to create a healthy work environment and diminish substance-related risks.
