Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cordova, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair examination is recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When taken from close to the scalp, hair can offer up to a three-month window of detection for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and uncomplicated to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a quantity of 150mg is advisable. It is advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair may be obtained. "Head hair" strictly refers to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal procedures in processing a drug test result in a laboratory setting are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory's framework. This stage involves ensuring the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Despite Screening being an economically viable method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be legally admissible. Any samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If a sample is indicated as positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is sourced from the existing specimen for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are derived from hair at notably lower concentrations than in alternative methods (such as urine or oral fluid), underscoring why hair drug testing is among the most complex methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicative of a positive result are cleansed prior to confirmation when needed. The whole laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine testing which has a more limited detection duration.
• Hard to falsify: Hair drug testing is notably resistant to deception, resulting in more dependable outcomes.
• Reveals usage history: It uncovers a trend of drug consumption over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically costlier compared to other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Variables such as hair color and individual growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Cordova, NE, hair follicle tests outshine urine tests in several ways. Their accuracy in detecting drug use over a longer period makes them superior. Hair tests provide more comprehensive insights, assessing up to 90 days of drug history, whereas urine tests may only capture recent use.

Employers preferring thorough evaluation find hair testing advantageous. It ensures that drug use isn't masked by short-term cessation, as might happen with urine testing. Ultimately, the reliability of hair testing provides peace of mind.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Cordova, NE, offers unmatched insights. Capturing up to 90 days of drug use history, it's invaluable for employers seeking to understand an employee's long-term substance use.

Such a comprehensive overview aids in evaluating an applicant's or employee’s past drug-use behavior. This long-term view minimizes surprises, helping employers maintain a safe and drug-free workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Cordova, NE, sets them apart. Minimizing sample adulteration risk, they deliver reliable and unquestionable results, ensuring unbiased evaluations.

Unlike other methods, hair specimens are difficult to alter. This makes hair testing an ideal choice for scenarios where the integrity of the sample is crucial, promoting genuine and untainted results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide locations, including local facilities in Cordova, NE, testing services are hassle-free. Our extensive network ensures quick and efficient access to drug testing for all.

Offering ease of use, individuals and companies find our centers accommodating. Accessing hair follicle testing is simple and straightforward, ensuring timely results without unnecessary delays.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple and confidential process of hair follicle testing in Cordova, NE, addresses privacy concerns. Ordering, taking, and receiving results are straightforward, ensuring ease and confidentiality.

Efficient procedures protect personal information, making the entire experience seamless, fostering trust among those undergoing testing. This convenience ensures using our services is a stress-free journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround in Cordova, NE, our hair testing services bring value to businesses. Competitive rates, combined with swift results, accommodate companies of all sizes.

This commitment to economical solutions ensures organizations maintain budget control without sacrificing quality, providing peace of mind with every test conducted.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cordova, NE, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision in detecting substance use surpasses many traditional methods. With a streamlined process, results are swiftly delivered, aiding employers and individuals in making informed decisions.

These tests boast high accuracy, detecting drugs even with minimal exposure. The detailed analysis ensures that any traces of substances are efficiently identified, giving users confidence in the results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Cordova, NE, hair follicle testing ensures compliance and peace of mind for employers. Offering a reliable deterrent against workplace drug use, it supports adherence to drug-free policies.

By reducing legal risks and enhancing safety, employers benefit from a more secure workplace environment. Hair testing provides clarity, helping uphold company standards and fostering trust among employees.

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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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