Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gandy, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When clipped near the scalp, hair offers up to a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is not accessible, a corresponding quantity of body hair can be utilized. "Head hair" specifically denotes scalp hair. "Body hair" encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps engaged in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s procedure. This step ensures the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any necessary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody setup.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for illicit drugs. Although Screening is a budget-friendly approach to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive outcome requires confirmation for court admissibility. Samples deemed presumply positive in Screening mandate secondary confirmation.

For samples considered presumptively positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and designated for Extraction. At this juncture, drugs are isolated from hair in significantly lower concentrations compared to alternative techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive undergo washing as required before confirmation. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is thoroughly evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair categorization and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use for up to 90 days, compared to the considerably shorter window of urine tests.
• Resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: It provides a temporal pattern of drug usage, beyond just immediate use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: Drug visibility in hair typically requires 5–7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result disparities: Factors such as hair pigmentation and individual growth variances can sway the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite being commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the actual test evaluates the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Gandy, NE, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing due to its superior accuracy and reliability. Thanks to a longer detection window and tamper-proof collection process, hair tests ensure more precise substance use detection compared to conventional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Gandy, NE benefit from hair follicle testing's extended detection period, which can capture drug use patterns up to 90 days prior. This offers a comprehensive insight into an individual's substance history, proving invaluable for informed hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle drug tests in Gandy, NE significantly minimize the chance of sample tampering, offering dependable and incontrovertible results. This robust anti-fraud measure elevates the trustworthiness of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Gandy, NE, our convenient nationwide testing facilities enable hassle-free access to hair follicle drug testing. This network of centers ensures quick and straightforward testing services cater to diverse needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The straightforward and confidential hair testing process in Gandy, NE promotes privacy and ease of use. From ordering the test to receiving results, each step ensures client confidentiality while providing effortless usability.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Gandy, NE, enjoys competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle drug testing. These cost-effective solutions offer outstanding value and timely results, catering to businesses of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug testing ensure reliable detection of substances in Gandy, NE. This method delivers fast and trustworthy results, positioning it as a preferred choice for substance detection among employers.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Gandy, NE gain assurance by implementing hair follicle testing, ensuring alignment with drug-free workplace regulations. This testing approach mitigates legal liabilities and fosters a safer work 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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