Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Avoca, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an exceptional means for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. It offers a prolonged history by securing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When obtained near the scalp, hair gives an approximately 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and other substances. It is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch piece of around 200 hair strands (similar in thickness to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale is suggested for weighing the sample. In the absence of scalp hair, a proportional quantity of body hair can be gathered. In mentioning head hair, it refers solely to scalp hair, as body hair pertains to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Drug test result processing within laboratories comprises four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial sample processing within a laboratory's framework, including the validation of the properly sealed and dispatched sample, the allocation of a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and the completion of any additional data input absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary swift check for substance abuse. While it is a cost-efficient means to exclude drug usage in most tests, a positive screening requires confirmation to be acceptable in legal settings. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

For specimens with a presumptive positive result in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, the drug is separated from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation of a positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples undergo washing if needed. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug testing can reveal substance use for as long as 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a briefer detection period.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating on a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, enhancing the precision of the outcomes.
• Shows historical usage patterns: This method can illustrate a trend of drug use over a duration, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to be detectable within hair.
• Costliness: Hair drug testing typically incurs higher expenses compared to other testing strategies.
• Result discrepancies: Elements such as hair color and individual growth variations can impact the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although frequently termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle located under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Avoca, NE, hair follicle testing demonstrates superior accuracy when juxtaposed with urine tests. Its ability to provide longer detection windows makes it the preferred choice for organizations enforcing zero-tolerance drug policies. Hair tests offer unparalleled reliability by revealing a more comprehensive history of substance use.
The precision of hair tests significantly outshines that of urine tests. By capturing drug traces as small as one picogram, employers make better-informed hiring decisions, ensuring a safe and productive workplace environment.

Extended Detection Window

In Avoca, NE, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection period, covering up to 90 days of substance use history. This extensive look-back window allows employers to gain a full picture of an individual's drug use, aiding in thorough assessments. The prolonged detection capability surpasses that of traditional tests, offering unique insights.
Employers benefit from this method by understanding potential hires' substance patterns more comprehensively, leading to better-educated hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Avoca, NE sees a significant reduction in sample adulteration risks through hair follicle testing. Unlike other methods, its robust nature ensures tamper-resistant outcomes. The likelihood of manipulation is minimal, ensuring results are authentic and indisputable.
Employers and legal entities gain confidence in these tests as the impossible-to-fool nature provides peace of mind, verifying employees' compliance with substance policies effectively.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Avoca, NE, finding a drug testing center is convenient with our nationwide network of facilities. These testing locations provide fast and easy access to hair follicle tests, ensuring results are obtained without hassle. Local availability means individuals can schedule and complete tests with simplicity.
This extensive reach reduces wait times and increases efficiency, making the testing process smooth and effective for everyone involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Avoca, NE, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. From scheduling your test to receiving the results, the entire process is streamlined for user convenience. Privacy is a top priority, ensuring all personal information remains protected.
Clients find reassurance in the seamless and discreet nature of the service, knowing their needs are handled with care and confidentiality from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Avoca, NE offers hair follicle testing with competitive pricing and quick turnaround times. Companies of all sizes benefit from this affordable testing solution, ensuring they receive high-quality service without breaking the budget. The fast processing times mean businesses can make prompt decisions based on accurate data.
Providing excellent value for comprehensive testing results is a key feature that supports organizations' needs efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Avoca, NE, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their speed and accuracy. By utilizing state-of-the-art technology, these tests are incredibly precise, offering rapid results that accurately detect substances within the hair. This method ensures individuals receive reliable and prompt feedback on their substance use, supporting various personal and professional needs.
Substance detection through hair tests is not only swift but is characterized by its dependability. Testing facilities equipped with cutting-edge tools guarantee that every test conducted yields trustworthy findings. The ability to rely on these results allows organizations and individuals to make informed decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Avoca, NE, find hair follicle testing a key asset for maintaining drug-free environments. Utilizing this advanced testing technique supports adherence to workplace policies, significantly reducing legal risks. The assurance of reliable results enhances workplace safety, benefiting employees and employers alike.
By adopting hair testing, businesses ensure policy enforcement, mitigating potential disputes while fostering a secure and productive workplace.

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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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