Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis is now regarded as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term substance use history by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When a sample is taken from near the scalp, hair offers about a three-month window for alcohol and drug detection. It is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to ship.
A sample length of 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair—this is the ideal quantity for analysis and confirmation. For tests such as EtG, add-ons, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for measurement. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. Here, head hair denotes scalp hair specifically, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four core steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning is the initial entry stage of a sample into the lab’s workflow, ensuring the sample’s integrity, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and handling any data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.
Screening involves a preliminary scan for drugs. Although Screening is cost-efficient for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive result needs confirmation for legal validity. Any sample yielding a presumptive positive during Screening will require a confirmatory procedure.
If a sample indicates a potential positive status in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction step. Here, drug compounds are isolated from hair at lower concentrations than in urine or oral fluid methods, which makes hair drug screening particularly challenging.
Positive screen results undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples showing presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests," the procedure focuses on examining the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
In Wallula, WA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests through its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests detect a wider range of substances over an extended period, offering a comprehensive overview of usage history compared to the brief detection window of urine tests.
Hair follicle tests provide a more accurate chronology of substance use, making them essential for employers and authorities requiring detailed insights. In contrast, urine tests only capture recent usage, limiting their scope of detection.
Hair follicle testing in Wallula, WA, provides an exceptional detection window, capturing drug use over a period of up to 90 days. This offers employers a much more complete overview of an individual's substance use history, making it an indispensable tool in pre-employment screenings.
The extended detection range of hair testing allows employers to understand better long-term drug use trends, offering insights that are not available with shorter-duration tests such as urine sampling.
In Wallula, WA, hair follicle testing offers a testing method that significantly minimizes the potential for tampering. Given the collection and substance processing methods, this form of testing is exceptionally challenging to alter, providing assured and trustworthy results.
With the robust nature of hair testing, the risk of adulterating samples is drastically reduced, ensuring unquestionable results that maintain integrity throughout every step of the testing process.
With convenient locations across Wallula, WA, and nationwide, accessing drug testing services has never been easier. Our widespread testing centers provide quick and hassle-free access, ensuring that individuals can complete testing without significant disruption.
The network of testing locations ensures that whether near or far, individuals can easily find a center to meet their testing needs, facilitating a smooth process for everyone involved.
In Wallula, WA, the process for hair follicle testing is both straightforward and confidential. From ordering the test to taking it and receiving results, clients are assured of privacy and ease throughout.
The testing process guarantees that individuals can maintain confidentiality at every stage, providing peace of mind about privacy and ensuring a user-friendly experience.
Offering competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, our hair follicle testing in Wallula, WA, delivers exceptional value. Companies of all sizes can access this reliable testing method without concerns over cost or delays.
The affordability and speed of our testing services ensure businesses maintain their standards while keeping expenses in check, reinforcing our commitment to providing premium services without the premium price.
The efficiency of hair follicle drug tests in Wallula, WA, ensures results are both fast and precise. Not only do they maintain high accuracy in identifying substances, but their speed to result delivery is also unparalleled, ensuring that you receive reliable data promptly.
Trust in the hair follicle method for detecting substances, as its speed and precision in providing accurate outcomes stand out. This allows individuals and organizations to rely on the findings, ensuring all decisions are based on clear and sound data.
Employers in Wallula, WA, benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies, minimising legal risks, and enhancing safety. This method offers peace of mind by confirming adherence to both corporate and legal standards.
The assurance that comes from using hair tests gives employers peace of mind, knowing they are effectively upholding a safe, drug-free environment while complying with regulations.