Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Archer, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer an approximately 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. It is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment containing roughly 200 strands of hair (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional markers, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for measurement. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all non-scalp hair (beard, armpits, etc.).

Process Overview

The core steps in the lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial handling of a sample within a lab's workflow. This phase includes confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) at random, and completing any necessary data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening consists of a preliminary swift assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, any positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples testing positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

For samples found presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. Here, substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which is why hair drug screening is a particularly challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that are presumptively positive are cleansed as necessary prior to confirmation. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a narrower detection timeframe.
• High resistance to cheating: Hair drug tests are notably hard to compromise, ensuring more reliable results.
• Ability to reveal usage patterns: Offers insights into drug use trends over time, rather than recent consumption only.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent intake: Drugs require about 5-7 days post-use to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair tests tend to be pricier than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth rates can affect drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Archer, NE, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests due to superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests can detect drug use over a longer period, offering more comprehensive results than urine tests.

Employers seeking precise results favor hair tests, as they provide insights into over 90 days of substance use, compared to the limited window of urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Archer, NE, offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days, providing a thorough view of an individual's substance history. This lengthy detection period helps employers evaluate a person's long-term behavior accurately.

This comprehensive approach ensures that employers have a better understanding of an employee's drug use over time.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Archer, NE, significantly reduce the risk of sample adulteration. These tests stand as tamper-resistant, providing reliable and unquestionable results every time.

This robustness reassures employers that the results are genuine, reducing the possibility of falsification, which is more common in other testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With conveniently located testing centers nationwide, including in Archer, NE, accessing hair follicle drug testing is quick and hassle-free. Offering nationwide services ensures streamlined access to drug testing services no matter where you are.

Our local presence further underscores our commitment to ease and convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Archer, NE, is simple and confidential. Ensuring privacy, this process addresses any concerns about ease of use, making it straightforward for users.

The confidentiality ensures that personal information and test outcomes remain secure and private.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Archer, NE, we provide competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle drug testing. These cost-effective solutions deliver excellent value and peace of mind to companies, regardless of size.

Our pricing structure ensures that efficient and budget-friendly testing is accessible to all businesses.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Archer, NE, are renowned for their precision and speed. These tests boast high accuracy in identifying substance use, ensuring that results are both fast and dependable.

The test's efficiency lies in its ability to quickly process samples and deliver accurate outcomes, setting a high standard for reliability in drug testing within Archer.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

By using hair follicle testing, employers in Archer, NE, can ensure compliance with drug-free policies, reducing legal risks and enhancing safety.

This testing method provides peace of mind, as it supports workplace safety initiatives and protects against potential legal challenges related to drug policy violations.

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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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