Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Exeter, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly acknowledged as a formidable method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair records a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When cut close to the scalp, hair can reveal substance usage for up to around three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches, approximately 200 strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil), taken near the scalp produces 100 mg, the optimal amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150 mg is advised. Specimens should be weighed using a jeweler’s scale for accuracy. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair is acceptable. References to head hair concern only the scalp, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary).

Overview of the Process

The drug test outcome in a laboratory setting involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning marks the first phase where the sample is logged into a lab’s system. This step includes ensuring the sample's seal and correct shipping, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic custody system.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for drug presence. Although cost-efficient for ruling out drugs in most samples, a positive screen must still undergo verification to be judicially valid. Samples with a presumptive positive from Screening require additional confirmation.

For samples that are presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken for the Extraction stage. In this phase, drug substances are isolated from hair at much lower levels than in other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug testing the most challenging technique to execute.

Validation of any positive screen happens through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive specimens are washed before confirmation if needed. The full lab procedure, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is meticulously reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of Hair Drug Testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug assessments can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Challenging to manipulate: Hair drug tests are hard to defraud, ensuring more reliable outcomes.
• Traces historical patterns: It sheds light on drug usage trends over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Can’t detect recent use: Drugs become visible in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally incurs more costs than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Commonly dubbed "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests highlights its superior accuracy and reliability in Exeter, NE. Hair testing provides a broader detection window, capturing substance use over an extended period.

Urine tests have been the standard, but hair testing's far-reaching detection offers a more comprehensive view of drug use history, making it invaluable for stakeholders like employers and legal entities.

Extended Detection Window

In Exeter, NE, hair follicle testing is renowned for its extended detection window, covering up to 90 days of substance use. This expansive timeframe provides employers with a clear window into an individual's drug history.

The ability of hair testing to trace longer periods is unmatched. Businesses gain crucial insights into potential employees or existing workforce substance behavior, ensuring informed employment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Exeter, NE stands as a tamper-resistant choice. Unlike other methods, it minimizes sample adulteration risks, ensuring results are trustworthy and irrefutable.

Employers seeking reliable drug test methods can trust hair testing's strong resistance to manipulation, providing peace of mind and credibility in result integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key in Exeter, NE with our nationwide and local hair testing centers offering accessible services. Testing locations across the country ensure simplicity and ease of testing processes.

Quick and hassle-free access to testing centers makes maintaining workplace safety a seamless experience, regardless of location.

Simple, Confidential Process

Exeter, NE residents enjoy a straightforward process for hair follicle testing. The simple, confidential steps—from order to result—ensure privacy and user-friendliness throughout.

Confidentiality remains paramount, making the journey from testing to result efficiently secure and stress-free for individuals and employers alike.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing in Exeter, NE pairs with swift turnaround times to deliver substantial value. Companies can expect cost-effective solutions coupled with quick, reliable results, enhancing decision-making.

The combination of affordable strategies and expeditious service ensures organizations, regardless of size, benefit from economic testing without sacrificing quality or speed.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The reliability and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled in Exeter, NE. Hair tests deliver high-precision outcomes, crucial for substance detection. Their meticulous nature ensures accurate results, giving you confidence in every analysis.

The proficiency of hair follicle testing lies in its rapid response. Employers can swiftly receive substance use results, enhancing decision-making processes and maintaining workplace safety.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Incorporating hair follicle testing into workforce protocols brings peace of mind to Exeter, NE businesses. It strengthens adherence to drug-free workplace policies and mitigates legal risks.

Employers rest assured with safe practices upheld through comprehensive testing methods, promoting an environment where safety standards thrive.

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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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