Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gering, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is acknowledged as an efficient method to detect drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures a prolonged history of substances by encasing biomarkers in the growing hair fiber. When you collect hair near the scalp, it reveals up to roughly a 3-month detection period for substances like alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg, ideal for screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, extra tests, and/or assessments over 10 panels, obtaining 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair is not an option, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. When we mention head hair, we imply scalp hair exclusively. Body hair pertains to other types such as facial, axillary, etc.

Process Overview

There are four principal stages in the lab process of evaluating a drug test outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is about the first processing phase of a sample within a lab’s framework. This step involves ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and carrying out any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening constitutes a preliminary rapid examination for substance abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to negate drug use in most cases, a positive result needs corroboration for court admissibility. Samples preliminarily positive in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

If Screening finds a sample tentatively positive, more hair is taken from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug testing is the toughest method to perform.

Any positive screening result confirmation is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Pre-confirmation procedures include washing all samples that tested presumptive positive as required. The exhaustive lab procedure from Accessioning through to Confirmation is audited consistent with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair description and ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Sustained detection period: Hair drug tests have the capacity to identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• High integrity: It's extremely challenging to falsify a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Reveals usage history: It charts a drug use pattern over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur higher costs compared to other testing solutions.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While customarily termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination assesses the hair strand, excluding the follicle under the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Gering, NE, hair follicle testing stands out against traditional urine tests with its superior accuracy and reliability in detecting drug use.

Unlike urine tests, hair testing offers a much longer detection window and is highly resistant to tampering, making it the preferred choice.

Extended Detection Window

With hair follicle testing in Gering, NE, employers enjoy an extended detection window of up to 90 days.

This comprehensive timeframe allows for a thorough evaluation of an individual's substance use history, offering valuable insights into their long-term habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests provide a tamper-resistant solution to drug testing in Gering, NE, reducing the risk of sample manipulation.

With these tests, employers receive reliable and undeniable results, emphasizing their advantage over other testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient nationwide testing centers and local access in Gering, NE.

Our expansive network ensures quick, easy, and hassle-free testing services, meeting the needs of clients promptly and efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Gering, NE, our hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential, addressing any privacy concerns.

Clients benefit from a seamless experience, from ordering and testing to receiving results, all handled with discretion and ease.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, Accredited Drug Testing in Gering, NE offers excellent value for businesses.

Our services accommodate companies of any size, ensuring affordability and speed without compromising on quality or reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision of hair follicle drug tests in Gering, NE, is unparalleled, offering fast and reliable detection of substance use.

Thanks to advanced technology, these tests can swiftly identify drug use with remarkable accuracy, ensuring timely results without sacrificing precision.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Gering, NE, achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing, supporting drug-free workplace policies.

This method not only mitigates legal risks but also enhances workplace safety, ensuring a secure and productive environment.

Drug Testing Near Gering, NE

Bayard, NE

McGrew, NE

Minatare, NE

Mitchell, NE

Mintle, NE

Carlson, NE

Melbeta, NE

Haig, NE

Scottsbluff, NE

Terrytown, NE

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews