Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands provide an extensive timeline of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the growing fiber. When cut near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of nearly three months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for transport.
A sample measuring 1.5 inches of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in diameter to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the ideal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional factors, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is recommended. Using a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample is advised. If scalp hair is not present, an equivalent amount of body hair may be gathered. 'Head hair' solely refers to scalp hair, while 'body hair' encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The key steps in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning involves the primary processing of a sample into a laboratory's workflow. This entails ensuring the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening provides an initial, quick assessment for drug abuse. While it’s a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be sufficient for legal proceedings. Samples that are tentatively positive in Screening necessitate a secondary verification.
If a sample tests presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Here, the drugs are removed from hair at a substantially lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), indicating why hair drug testing is a complex technique to administer.
Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All tentative positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as required. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Salkum, WA, hair follicle tests offer a definitive edge over urine tests. Superior detection accuracy is achieved, providing a robust means of identifying substance use. Unlike urine tests, which cover a short timeframe, hair testing gives a historical record of drug usage, proving more reliable for comprehensive assessments.
The hair follicle testing method employed in Salkum, WA allows for an extended detection window, capturing drug use history for up to 90 days. Employers benefit from this extended period as it provides a more complete overview of an individual's drug-use pattern, aiding in more informed decision-making.
In Salkum, WA, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests greatly minimizes the chance of adulteration. This method ensures that the samples provided remain unaltered, therefore delivering results that stakeholders can trust without question.
With convenient nationwide testing centers, including local options in Salkum, WA, accessing hair follicle drug testing services is straightforward. This network allows individuals and organizations to efficiently utilize drug testing services without the hassle of long-distance travel.
Offering a simple and confidential process in Salkum, WA, hair follicle testing ensures user privacy and ease. From ordering to processing and receiving results, every step is designed to respect confidentiality while providing a smooth experience for all involved.
Competitive pricing and fast turnaround times in Salkum, WA make hair follicle testing accessible and valuable for businesses of various sizes. The affordability paired with quick results ensures excellent service for companies managing drug-free workplace policies.
For those in Salkum, WA seeking fast, accurate, and reliable drug testing, hair follicle analysis stands out. Its precision in detecting substance abuse and quick result times makes it a superior choice compared to other methods. Laboratories are equipped to provide highly accurate interpretations of the samples, ensuring trust in the results delivered.
For employers in Salkum, WA, hair follicle testing supports compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By utilizing these tests, companies both reassure safety within the work environment and mitigate legal risks, thus contributing to enhanced peace of mind in their operations.
