Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brownson, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now viewed as an effective means to identify alcohol and drug consumption. Hair acts as a timeline for substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken close to the scalp, hair can reveal a detection span of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is effortless to gather, rather challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches involving about 200 strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg, which is the optimum sample for testing and verification. For EtG or additional tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to measure the specimen's weight. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test contains four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory’s mechanism. This step includes confirming the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data needed not included in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening signifies an initial swift assessment for abusive drugs. Screening is a cost-effective approach to negate drug use in most samples, but a positive screen results need confirmation for court validity. Any samples that suggest negativity in Screening require additional confirmation.

If Screening indicates a positive result, more hair is extracted from the original sample to be prepared for Extraction. This phase involves retrieving drugs from hair at a considerably lower concentration than other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), which contributes to hair drug screening being notably challenging to execute.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples suspected of being positive are cleaned before Confirmation, if required. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can discern drug consumption for up to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Hard to deceive: It is extremely hard to deceive a hair drug test, ensuring the results' accuracy.
• Tracks historical usage: It can show a pattern of drug use over a timeframe, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify immediate use: It necessitates approximately 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally entail higher costs than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual growth variations may influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While often dubbed "hair follicle tests," the assessment examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The Benefits of Hair Follicle Testing in Brownson, NE, are profound. Unlike the traditional urine tests, hair analysis offers enhanced detection reliability. Employers and legal entities find it ideal due to its superior accuracy, ensuring robust drug use evaluation against usual testing methods.

Extended Detection Window

The Extended Detection Window provided in Brownson, NE, is a groundbreaking feature of hair follicle testing. Capable of identifying drug consumption over a stretch of up to 90 days, it presents employers with a thorough understanding of an individual's substance habits, going beyond recent usage patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Brownson, where Tamper-Resistant Testing is crucial, hair follicle assessments minimize risks associated with sample manipulation. This method delivers credible, unadulterated results, a necessity for stakeholders demanding irrefutable accuracy in drug assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations including Brownson, NE, we cater to your testing needs effortlessly. Our widespread network enables rapid and seamless test access, making the process smooth for everyone involved, regardless of where they are situated.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Brownson, NE, ensures that your engagement with our services remains private and straightforward. From booking to result retrieval, every step envelops confidentiality and simplicity, addressing any privacy concerns while maintaining ease and security.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Brownson, NE, we prioritize delivering exceptional value. Our cost-effective structures, combined with our commitment to quick results, ensure peace of mind and service satisfaction for all business scales.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Brownson captures the essence of hair follicle testing, revered for its precision. The process not only facilitates speedy results but guarantees the highest standard of accuracy in detecting substance use, positioning itself as an invaluable tool for both employers and individuals alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Highlighting Compliance and Peace of Mind in Brownson, NE, hair follicle analysis confirms adherence to drug-free mandates, significantly curtailing potential legal repercussions. By integrating this approach, employers not only ensure safety but also reinforce commitment to maintaining a productive, policy-compliant 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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