Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cedar Bluffs, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair strands retain biomarkers that reveal a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake. When sampled near the scalp, hair can show up to around a 3-month detection timeframe. It is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of roughly 200 hair strands, approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil, from the area nearest to the scalp, produces 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample size of 150mg is advised. It's advisable to measure the hair using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, a similar amount of body hair can be gathered. By head hair, we mean only scalp hair, while body hair indicates any other hair types (like facial or underarm hair).

Process Overview

The key phases in the laboratory assessment of a drug test involve Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning starts with integrating a sample into a lab's system. This step verifies that the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigns a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completes any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening executes an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Even though Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage for most samples, any positive results need verification to be legally acceptable. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are extracted from the hair at lower concentrations than found in other methods (like urine or saliva tests), making hair drug testing a challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of positive Screening outcomes is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples showing presumptive positives are washed before confirmation as necessary. The laboratory procedures from Accessioning to Confirmation are inspected under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and conform to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, making the results more reliable.
• Shows usage history: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, and not only recent activities.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent intake: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Inconsistencies in outcomes: Factors like hair color or personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration levels of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Cedar Bluffs, NE

Hair testing stands out due to its extended detection timespan and accuracy, eclipsing conventional urine tests. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis reveals substance habits over months, not just days, delivering a more complete and uncontestable picture of drug use that supports employers in creating safer workspaces.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Cedar Bluffs, NE

The distinct advantage of hair follicle testing is its ability to trace drug use over a duration of up to 90 days. This broad detection period aids employers in analyzing an individual's substance profile comprehensively, ensuring no detail is missed regarding historical drug consumption patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Cedar Bluffs, NE

Ensuring the integrity of test results, hair follicle testing minimizes sample tampering. Its robust collection and analysis procedure makes altering results virtually unachievable, providing employers with confidence and unquestionable certainty in the outcomes they receive.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Cedar Bluffs, NE

Our expansive network of nationwide testing facilities, coupled with local locations, provides unmatched convenience. Accessing our services is quick and hassle-free, ensuring individuals and employers can undergo testing with minimal disruption to their routine schedules.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Cedar Bluffs, NE

The simplicity and confidentiality of our hair follicle testing process guarantee ease of use and privacy. Our procedure—from order to results—is designed to be straightforward, enabling clients to engage with complete confidence and discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Cedar Bluffs, NE

By combining competitive pricing with rapid result delivery, our hair follicle testing services deliver outstanding value. Whether dealing with small startups or large corporations, our speedy turnarounds offer peace of mind and dependability at an unbeatable cost.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Cedar Bluffs, NE

Our hair follicle drug testing provides the highest levels of precision and speed, promising swift and accurate detection of substance use. Trusted by numerous employers across various industries, hair testing offers a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance use, ensuring decisions are backed by reliable data.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Cedar Bluffs, NE

Implementing hair follicle drug testing ensures workplaces comply with drug-free mandates, reducing legal challenges, and promoting a secure and productive working environment. This reliable method helps uphold company protocols and foster trust and peace of mind among staff and stakeholders.

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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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