Hair Follicle Drug Testing - De Witt, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand, providing an extended record of alcohol and drug use. When hair is collected near the scalp, it can offer about a 3-month detection period for these substances. Hair is easy to collect, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches of around 200 strands nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For tests such as EtG or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is suggested. Measuring the specimen with a jeweler’s scale is advised. If scalp hair cannot be collected, an equal quantity of body hair can be used. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types of hair (like facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

There are four primary steps in the laboratory processing of drug test samples: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves initiating the sample processing within a laboratory’s system. This covers checking that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody.

Screening comprises an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screening must be verified to be allowable in court. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from the hair at concentrations far lower than other methodologies (like urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging method.

Positive screening results are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed, if necessary, before confirmation. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the lab process is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a narrower window.
• High resistance to cheating: It’s extremely hard to manipulate results in a hair drug test, hence increasing accuracy.
• Tracks historical usage: It illustrates a pattern of drug use over a greater timeline, not merely recent drug consumption.

Limitations:

• Detects past use only: Drugs in hair become detectable roughly 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual variations in hair growth can impact the level of drug metabolites in hair strands.

Note: While often called "hair follicle tests", the assessment actually focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Extended Detection Period One major advantage hair follicle testing has over urine testing is its extended detection window, capturing drug use up to 90 days prior—beyond the short detection period of urine tests. This makes it superior in De Witt, NE.

Increased Reliability Compared to urine tests, hair follicle testing boasts greater reliability, with its increased resistance to tampering or evasion. This method ensures trustworthy results for employers and individuals.

Extended Detection Window

Long-Term Drug Use Insight In De Witt, NE, hair follicle testing is valued for its capability to reveal a person's drug use history over a period of up to 90 days. This presents employers with detailed insights into an applicant or employee's substance behavior.

Comprehensive Substance Evaluation Using hair follicle testing provides employers with more thorough data on an individual’s past drug usage, helping them make informed decisions based on extensive evidence of behavior over the months preceding the test.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure Testing Assurance Hair follicle testing in De Witt, NE, significantly reduces the potential for sample tampering, offering a robust method to obtain results without the risk of adulteration, unlike more traditional testing methods.

Unrivaled Sample Integrity The testing procedure ensures sample integrity, meaning the results are difficult to manipulate, allowing employers to confidently rely on the accuracy of their employee drug testing processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible and Convenient Nationwide Centers Our wide network of testing facilities, including those in De Witt, NE, ensures testing is conveniently available. The process is straightforward and hassle-free, accommodating the needs of varied testing requirements.

Local Presence and Nationwide Reach With our numerous centers spread across the nation, finding a local facility near De Witt is easy, ensuring quick access to essential drug testing services whenever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

Easy and Confidential Testing Process Our approach in De Witt, NE, ensures the testing process is both simple and confidential, safeguarding individual privacy from order to result, thereby promoting ease-of-use and discretion.

Seamless Experience We prioritize a user-friendly experience, with clear steps for test ordering and result retrieval, further ensuring your information remains protected throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing for All Sizes In De Witt, NE, our testing services offer competitive pricing with rapid result turnaround, ensuring each company, regardless of size, receives excellent value for their investment with fast, dependable service.

Cost-Efficiency with Fast Results Our affordable testing options coupled with quick result delivery enable businesses to make efficient, key decisions without straining their budgets while ensuring thorough drug screening protocols.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Speed and Precision in Testing The accuracy and rapidity of hair follicle drug tests make them an exceptional choice for substance detection in De Witt, NE. This method ensures high precision in identifying drug use, providing results you can trust.

Enhanced Accuracy Thanks to its meticulous analytical process, hair follicle testing offers highly reliable results. Companies and individuals in De Witt can depend on this precision to maintain a drug-free environment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensured Compliance for Employers Utilizing hair follicle testing in De Witt, NE, allows businesses to adhere to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks and enhancing overall workplace safety by ensuring compliance.

Confidence in Employee Assessments Employers can have peace of mind with hair testing, knowing they are meeting industry standards and creating a safer, more productive work environment by effectively managing substance-related issues.

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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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