Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Grafton, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand, hair offers an extensive record of alcohol and drug usage. When sourced from a spot close to the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a corresponding amount of body hair is acceptable. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair refers to all other kinds (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory workflow for processing a drug test result includes four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially registered within a laboratory's system. This step includes confirming the sample was properly sealed and transported, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any missing data that wasn't captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening signifies a preliminary rapid test for substances of abuse. While Screening provides a budget-friendly means to exclude drug consumption in most samples, a positive screen must be validated for court acceptability. Samples that are tentatively positive during Screening mandate a follow-up confirmation.

Samples identified as potentially positive in Screening proceed to the Extraction phase, where additional hair is extracted from the initial sample. In this process, drugs are isolated from the hair in far lesser concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging technique to execute.

Any positive results from Screening undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to Confirmation, all tentative positive samples undergo necessary washing. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed in compliance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation under ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug evaluations can ascertain drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which exhibit a shorter window.
• Increased reliability: It's particularly challenging to manipulate a hair drug test result, thereby boosting accuracy.
• Historical insight: Offers a timeline of drug consumption behavior over several months, not merely instantaneous use.

Limitations:

• Delayed detection: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to be identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug examinations tend to cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Influences such as hair color and individual hair growth rate may impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Referred to as "hair follicle tests", however, the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Grafton, NE, hair follicle testing offers superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. With a longer detection window, hair tests can effectively track substance use over a three-month period. This is a crucial advantage for entities emphasizing effective and reliable substance monitoring, ensuring a deeper insight into an individual's substance history compared to the limited timeframe of urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

The extensive detection window of hair follicle tests in Grafton, NE, offers a significant advantage for employers. By detecting drug use over as much as 90 days, these tests provide a thorough understanding of an applicant or employee’s substance use history. This knowledge is invaluable for making informed hiring decisions and maintaining workplace safety, as it offers a comprehensive view beyond recent usage.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One compelling aspect of hair follicle testing in Grafton, NE, is its tamper-resistant nature. The testing method minimizes the risk of sample adulteration, which is a common concern with other testing methods. By ensuring that results are genuine and reliable, these tests offer assurance to employers and legal authorities that the samples reflect true substance use, without the interference of tampering tactics.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures convenience for those in Grafton, NE, with our widespread testing centers across the nation. Whether locally or across the country, our quick and hassle-free access to testing centers allows individuals and employers to easily schedule and perform necessary drug tests. This extensive network facilitates easy engagement with our dependable services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Grafton, NE, our drug testing process is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, individuals can be assured of their privacy at every step. This straightforward approach is designed to be user-friendly, allowing for ease of use while maintaining the confidentiality essential to client trust and satisfaction.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Grafton, NE, our hair follicle testing services offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround times. We showcase competitive pricing structures to accommodate companies of all sizes, ensuring excellent value. The combination of cost-effectiveness and speedy results provides companies with not just quality, but also peace of mind, knowing they have made a wise choice in their testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Grafton, NE, stand out for their speed and accuracy in delivering results. The testing process is streamlined for fast turnaround, offering reliable detection of substance use. This approach ensures that precision is maintained, providing a comprehensive picture of individual substance use without delays, crucial for decision-making processes for employers and legal entities alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Grafton, NE, hair follicle drug testing not only ensures compliance with drug-free policies but also enhances workplace safety. By reducing potential legal risks associated with non-compliance, employers can maintain peace of mind. This type of testing helps safeguard the work environment, aligning with the organization's commitment to a safe and productive workplace.

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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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