Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Champion, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair can chronicle prolonged exposure to alcohol and other substances by holding onto biomarkers in the hair shaft as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels beyond 10, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's suggested to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair alone. Body hair pertains to all other kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a sample into a lab's framework. This process incorporates validating that the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other data input not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary rapid scan for abused drugs. While Screening offers a budget-friendly approach to ruling out drug use in most samples, any positive screen must be corroborated to be considered valid in legal contexts. Samples that are tentatively positive during Screening need subsequent confirmation.

If a sample is provisionally positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and set up for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are drawn from hair at substantially lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is challenging.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory cycle from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Protracted detection range: Hair drug analyses can trace drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a limited detection span.
• Cheat-proof: Hair drug tests are very hard to deceive, ensuring more credible results.
• Illustrates usage trends: Allows tracking drug usage patterns over a duration, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of spotting recent intake: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result disparity: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", this test evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Champion, NE, hair follicle testing holds distinct advantages over urine testing. Superior detection accuracy is a key benefit of hair tests, providing reliable, clear results.

• Extended detection times reveal deeper substance history.
• Less susceptible to deception compared to urine tests.
• Comprehensive and thorough analysis.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Champion, NE brings the benefit of an extended detection window, offering insights into up to 90 days of substance use.

• Captures a wider period for better substance history assessment.
• Essential for employers wanting to comprehend a broader usage pattern.
• An effective tool for reviewing long-term behavior rather than recent use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Champion, NE's hair follicle testing method minimizes risks of tampering, offering trustworthy outcomes.

• Hard to manipulate sample integrity.
• Confidence in consistent analysis accuracy.
• Reliable and tamper-proof testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible and convenient, hair follicle testing is provided across nationwide centers, including those in Champion, NE. Wide network of facilities ensures quick testing services.

• Simplified access to nearby centers.
• Streamlined testing for participants.
• Easy appointment setting and management.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Champion, NE is confidential and straightforward. It provides a hassle-free experience while ensuring privacy.

• Seamless ordering and scheduling procedures.
• Private handling of personal data.
• Easy-to-understand result dissemination.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and rapid turnover times in Champion, NE, hair follicle testing delivers extraordinary value.

• Competitive rates for businesses of any size.
• Efficient processing for fast feedback.
• Cost-effective solution for comprehensive drug screening.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The pace and accuracy of hair follicle drug testing in Champion, NE is remarkable. Immediate results, combined with high detection precision, give a superior edge over traditional methods.

• Rapid processing for efficient decision-making.
• Minimized chances of error.
• Certainty in screening results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Champion, NE benefit from hair follicle testing with compliance and peace of mind.

• Assists adherence to drug-free workplace policies.
• Decreases legal liabilities.
• Promotes a secure and safe 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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