Hair Follicle Drug Testing - South Bethany, DE

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug traces by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. When hair is taken near the scalp, it can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) taken from the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the perfect amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, extra panel tests beyond 10, 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen’s weight. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal phases involved in handling a drug test result in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of the initial insertion of a sample into a lab’s system. This step involves confirming that the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any further data input not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary quick assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening provides a cost-efficient means of eliminating drug usage for most samples, a positive screen must be validated for it to hold up in court. Any samples with a presumed positive in Screening demand a subsequent confirmation.

In cases where a sample is presumptively positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. This phase involves removing drugs from hair at considerably lower concentrations than other approaches (such as urine or oral fluid), which positions hair drug testing as the most challenging technique to execute.

Positive screening results go through Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results undergo washing before confirmation as required. Every stage from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug consumption for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a briefer detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is very difficult, enhancing the reliability of the outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It can illustrate a pattern of drug consumption over an extended period, not just recent behavior.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect immediate use: It requires roughly 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur more costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Aspects such as hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While often termed as "hair follicle tests", the assessment itself examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in South Bethany, DE stands out over urine tests due to its superior reliability. It offers a better detection accuracy, ensuring that employers and authorities receive dependable outcomes.

The benefits of hair testing include less susceptibility to tampering, making it a trustworthy method compared to more traditional urine analyses.

Extended Detection Window

South Bethany, DE businesses benefit from hair follicle tests that offer an extensive drug detection window of up to 90 days. This thorough history allows for an insightful evaluation of an individual's substance use.

Employers in South Bethany gain the advantage of understanding an employee's substance backdrop over a prolonged period, aiding in informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In South Bethany, DE, hair follicle tests greatly mitigate tampering risks, providing results that are dependable and indisputable.

Due to its tamper-resistant nature, hair follicle testing ensures more accurate outcomes as compared to other testing methods, enhancing trust in the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous nationwide locations, including in South Bethany, DE, accessing hair follicle testing is efficient and straightforward, making it a convenient choice.

Our expansive network of testing centers ensures fast and trouble-free testing experiences for individuals and companies alike, right here in South Bethany.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in South Bethany, DE is designed to be straightforward and private, ensuring ease and confidentiality in handling test orders and results.

Individuals can expect a simple, secure experience when opting for hair testing, with privacy being a priority throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing paired with prompt turnaround times make hair follicle testing in South Bethany, DE an economical and efficient choice for businesses of all sizes.

Our cost-effective structures and rapid results provide companies with excellent value, supporting both small and large enterprises in South Bethany.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In South Bethany, DE, hair follicle drug tests are recognized for their speed and precision. They provide high accuracy in identifying substance use, making them a superior choice for those seeking reliable detection.

The clearness and speed of hair follicle testing are unmatched, delivering rapid and precise results, ensuring that potential substance abuse is quickly addressed.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For South Bethany, DE employers, hair follicle testing assures compliance with drug policies, mitigating legal concerns and fostering a safer work atmosphere.

Employers gain peace of mind knowing that hair testing aligns with their drug-free workplace objectives, minimizing risks and legal liabilities.

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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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