Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brandon, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly considered an effective mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair. When obtained from the scalp, hair can offer an approximate 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. It's straightforward to gather, less prone to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 strands of hair (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred sample size for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional panels, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample weight of 150mg is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample with a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't present, a similar quantity of body hair can be utilized. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first stage of incorporating a sample into a lab's system. This involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry that isn't provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid examination for drugs of abuse. While it is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use on most samples, any positive screening must be verified for court acceptability. Any presumption-positive samples in Screening mandate a secondary affirmation.

Should a sample be presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and processed for Extraction. This phase extracts drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), marking hair drug screening as the most challenging technique to execute.

Verification of any positive screening result is accomplished through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and aligned with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug utilization for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• High resistance to tampering: It is remarkably challenging to compromise a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Reveals historical usage: It can chart a course of drug use over time, as opposed to merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect immediate use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is generally pricier than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests," these tests analyze the hair strand and not the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Brandon, NE
Comparing hair and urine tests, hair follicle testing stands out due to its enhanced detection accuracy and reliability. Hair testing offers a longer window and more precise substance use identification, making it superior for comprehensive assessments of drug history, crucial for maintaining workplace safety.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Brandon, NE
Hair follicle tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days, offering employers a more detailed insight into an individual’s substance history. This extended detection period builds a comprehensive profile of potential employees, ensuring workplace safety and compliance with substance regulations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Brandon, NE
Hair follicle tests drastically reduce the probability of sample tampering, providing incontrovertible results. The inherent resistance to adulteration in hair samples ensures that test outcomes are dependable and unambiguous, fostering trust in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Brandon, NE
Our vast network of testing centers nationwide offers significant convenience, allowing for seamless access to testing services. This widespread presence ensures that testing is both quick and effortless, eliminating logistical hassles for individuals and organizations.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Brandon, NE
Our process for hair follicle drug testing is straightforward and confidential, designed to protect privacy. From ordering tests to receiving results, every step ensures ease of access and discretion, meeting the privacy needs of our clientele.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Brandon, NE
We offer competitive pricing for hair follicle drug tests, coupled with fast turnaround times. Our cost-effective approach ensures affordable access to top-quality testing services, making us a preferred choice for businesses of all sizes seeking value and reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Brandon, NE
Employing hair follicle drug tests ensures swift and accurate results. Their high precision captures even minimal substance use, making them a top choice for meticulous drug screening. This method excels at promptly identifying drug exposure, thereby supporting informed decision-making for employers.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Brandon, NE
Implementing hair follicle testing in workplaces fortifies adherence to drug-free policies. This practice not only mitigates legal liabilities but also bolsters workplace safety, granting employers and employees peace of mind about their working environment.

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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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