Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Central Kent, DE

What it is, How it works

The utilization of hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can offer a comprehensive long-term overview of alcohol and drug use by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When taken from near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of around three months for both alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A segment measuring 1.5 inches of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in thickness to a #2 pencil) obtained nearest to the scalp amounts to 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen weighing 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is not present, a similar quantity of body hair is acceptable. When referencing head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other types including facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The process within the laboratory for determining drug test results involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial incorporation of a sample into the lab’s system. This stage includes confirming that the sample has been properly sealed and transported, the assignment of a randomized LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry absent in an electronic custody system.

Screening represents an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although it serves as a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, any positive screen requires confirmation to be permissible in legal contexts. Samples with presumptive positives from Screening need a subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample return a presumptive positive after Screening, additional hair is extracted from the sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), demonstrating why hair drug screening is considered the most complex technique to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome uses GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples presumed positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and in accordance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use over a period extending up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection duration.
• Hard to deceive: Hair drug tests are notoriously difficult to falsify, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Supplies historical insights: It offers a history of drug use patterns spanning time rather than just immediate use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify immediate usage: Detecting drugs in hair takes roughly 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically costlier than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements like hair pigmentation and individual growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is misleading as the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Central Kent, DE, hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over urine tests. It showcases a superior ability to accurately identify drug use with an extended detection window, providing more reliable outcomes.

Extended Detection Window

Central Kent, DE, benefits from hair follicle testing's extended detection period of up to 90 days. This enables employers to gain a thorough understanding of an individual's substance use history, unlike standard methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Central Kent, DE, hair follicle tests dramatically reduce risks of sample tampering. Their inherent design ensures trustworthy results that remain unaltered by various methods of adulteration.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Testing convenience is maximized with numerous nationwide and local centers in Central Kent, DE. Accessible locations ensure that tests are swift, straightforward, and stress-free.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Central Kent, DE, the hair follicle testing process remains simple and confidential, enabling ease of order, testing, and receipt of results while safeguarding user privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and quick processing in Central Kent, DE, hair follicle testing provides exceptional value, catering to businesses of varying sizes effortlessly.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle testing in Central Kent, DE, are unparalleled. Compared to other methods, it provides swifter and exceptionally precise results, ensuring any detection of substance use is both accurate and reliable.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Central Kent, DE employers, hair follicle tests ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This not only mitigates legal risks but also promotes a safer work environment.

Drug Testing Near Central Kent, DE

Rodney Village, DE

Lebanon, DE

Highland Acres, DE

Rising Sun-Lebanon, DE

Wyoming, DE

Felton, DE

Woodside East, DE

Viola, DE

Woodside, DE

What's New In Hair Follicle Drug Testing according to the Hair Drug Testing Experts

With its multidisciplinary nature, hair testing brings together researchers, scientists, and experts from various domains to develop innovative techniques, explore new methodologies, and address emerging concerns, responding to the ever-evolving challenges of drug abuse, therapeutic drug monitoring, and environmental exposures to pollutants.

The joint meeting of the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) and the Italian Group of Forensic Toxicologists (GTFI) was organized in Verona, June 8–10, 2022, and hosted by the Legal Medicine team of the Verona University Hospital, directed by Franco Tagliaro together with Federica Bortolotti and Rossella Gottardo.

It served as a prominent platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, facilitating groundbreaking advancements in hair testing and analysis. In this special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, we aim to showcase the remarkable manuscripts presented at this significant event, shedding light on the latest research and highlighting the future directions in this field.

Novel Analytical Techniques: The Verona meeting witnessed the unveiling of cutting-edge analytical techniques, offering enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy for drug testing. Remarkable advancements in sample preparation, detection, and identification of drug compounds have been presented. The manuscripts in this section presented novel approaches, such as multianalyte methods and on-line preparation which can enable rapid analysis and improve thorough forensic investigations.

Biomarkers and Pharmacokinetics: The identification and validation of reliable biomarkers and pharmacokinetic studies are fundamental aspects of drug testing and analysis. The impact of hair treatments on the oxidation/decomposition of drugs in hair was also explored, as the long-term fate of drugs incorporated in the keratin matrix. Furthermore, the SoHT meeting in Verona featured research on the identification and quantification of alcohol abuse biomarkers, their stability, and their correlation with exposure and other biomarkers.

Forensic Applications and Interpretation: One of the vital objectives of hair testing is its application in forensic investigations and legal proceedings. The SoHT meeting in Verona emphasized the significance of rigorous interpretation of analytical results and the need for standardized protocols. Manuscripts in this section present advancements in forensic toxicology, and have explored the challenges posed by emerging designer drugs and strategies to combat their proliferation. The pitfalls encountered when the exogenous/endogenous nature of a substance is questioned were presented and discussed. The special issue presents also manuscripts that delve into the ethical implications of drug testing in drug facilitated sexual assaults.

Clinical Applications of hair testing are witnessed by the insight on environmental tobacco smoke exposure, assessed by hair analysis in a population of students and the study of in utero-exposure to drugs of abuse through neonatal hair analysis. Exposure to drugs was also important in cases of child abuse/neglect, when the clinical purpose of hair testing merge with its forensic applications.

The legal framework surrounding hair testing and the achievement of guidelines to ensure fairness, accuracy, and confidentiality in drug testing practices have also been discussed,and the SoHT consensus on general hair testing and testing for drugs of abuse was presented at the meeting and published as a Letter to the Editor.

In conclusion, the special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, featuring manuscripts from the SoHT–GTFI meeting in Verona 2022, reflects the remarkable advancements achieved in this field. The manuscripts provide valuable insights into novel analytical techniques, biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, forensic applications, and ethical considerations. As we embrace these advancements, we pave the way for a safer, healthier society, where drug testing and analysis serve as powerful tools in protecting public health and maintaining integrity in various sectors. The research presented in this special issue will undoubtedly shape the future of drug testing and analysis, fostering collaboration and inspiring further innovation in this crucial area of scientific inquiry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews