Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Delmar, DE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a timeline for alcohol and drug presence by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer roughly a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp can produce 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample for examination and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and evaluations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key steps in the laboratory evaluation of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab's system. This step includes checking if the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an early and rapid assessment for illicit drugs. While Screening is a cost-effective approach to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be legally acceptable. Any samples showing a presumptive positive in Screening require secondary confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample to be prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (for example, urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging method to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleansed prior to confirmation if needed. The comprehensive laboratory procedure, ranging from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO/IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can uncover drug usage for up to 90 days, in contrast with urine tests which have a briefer detection window.
• Low probability of tampering: It is extremely challenging to tamper with a hair drug test, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Historical data availability: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, as opposed to just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests," the test examines the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Superior Detection with Hair Testing: In Delmar, DE, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests in accuracy and reliability. By providing a comprehensive detection timeline, hair testing covers a broader range of substance use insights, reducing the likelihood of false negatives and offering a clearer picture of an individual's drug history.

Enhanced Reliability: Unlike urine tests, where results can be manipulated, hair follicle testing in Delmar ensures results that are less susceptible to tampering. This provides peace of mind to employers and better aids in maintaining a safe work environment.

Extended Detection Window

Unmatched Detection Window: A major benefit of hair follicle drug testing in Delmar, DE is its capacity to reveal drug use over an extended period, often up to 90 days. This gives employers a thorough understanding of drug use history, making it ideal for long-term analysis of an employee's or applicant's substance habits.

Comprehensive Substance History Insight: The prolonged detection capability of hair follicle tests in Delmar offers employers invaluable insights, covering three months of potential drug use. This better informs hiring decisions and ongoing employee assessments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Tamper-Resistant: In Delmar, DE, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its tamper-resistant nature. The collection and processing methods significantly reduce risks of sample adulteration, ensuring results that are reliable and indisputable, fostering trust in the testing process.

Impenetrable Testing Process: Hair follicle testing takes precedence over traditional methods due to its secure protocol. By minimizing the chance of tampering, these tests provide employers in Delmar with unquestionable results that they can confidently act upon.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Seamless Access Nationwide: Accredited Drug Testing offers a widespread network of testing facilities, including options in Delmar, DE. This ensures that accessing our services is convenient and hassle-free, eliminating barriers to necessary drug testing when and where it's needed.

Convenience at Your Fingertips: Whether you're located in Delmar or elsewhere in the country, our extensive network of testing centers ensures quick and straightforward access, allowing for efficient testing services with minimal inconvenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Easy & Confidential: The process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Delmar, DE is straightforward and private. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that every step maintains confidentiality, alleviating any privacy concerns and facilitating ease of use.

Streamlined Testing Experience: At our Delmar facilities, the hair follicle testing protocol is designed to be as simple as possible, providing a confidential and straightforward experience, from registration to results delivery.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Value and Efficiency: Accredited Drug Testing presents competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle tests in Delmar, DE. Businesses of all sizes can appreciate the value provided by our affordable, high-quality service without the wait.

Pricing That Fits Your Budget: With our competitive rates, coupled with quick and precise results, companies in Delmar, DE can rest assured they’re receiving excellent service without breaking the bank.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast Results & High Precision: With hair follicle drug testing in Delmar, DE, get results that are both expedited and highly precise. Designed to offer high accuracy in substance detection, these tests leverage advanced methodologies, ensuring that employers have reliable data on hand without unnecessary delays.

Accuracy in Detection: Hair follicle testing uses scientific precision to uncover substance use, providing detailed insights that surpass traditional methods. This not only bolsters trust but also aids in faster, more informed decision-making for businesses in Delmar.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Assurance: Utilizing hair follicle testing in Delmar, DE positions employers to maintain strict compliance with workplace drug policies, potentially reducing legal issues and ensuring a safer, drug-free environment for all employees.

Legal Peace of Mind: By adhering to hair follicle testing, businesses in Delmar can uphold zero-tolerance drug policies effectively, mitigating legal risks, and enhancing organizational safety and peace of mind.

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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.

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