Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hansen, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a valuable method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer an extended-term record of substance use, as biomarkers get entangled within the fibers as the hair grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair samples can reveal drug and alcohol use spanning roughly three months. The ease of sample collection, the difficulty in tampering with it, and its straightforward shipping make hair testing advantageous.

An ideal sample for both screening and confirmation is a 1.5-inch segment comprising about 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil), yielding approximately 100mg of hair. For EtG assessments, supplemental tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, about 150mg is preferable. It's advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In situations where scalp hair is unsuitable, an equivalent section of body hair is adequate. "Head hair" explicitly refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other varieties, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

Laboratory drug testing processes encompass four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is first incorporated into a laboratory system. This phase verifies the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing entries not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening conducts a preliminary evaluation for drug abuse indicators. While cost-efficient for ruling out drug presence in most samples, only a verified positive result from the Screening stage is legally admissible. Samples indicating potential positivity require further validation.

Should a sample test presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than via methods like urine or oral fluid tests, underscoring the challenge of hair drug testing.

Positive Screening outcomes undergo Confirmation using techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Necessary washes are conducted before confirming presumptive positive samples. The complete laboratory protocol, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair program, with adherence to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine testing, which offers a shorter detection span.
• High integrity: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, yielding more reliable results.
• Chronological insights: It reveals drug usage patterns over time, not just recent drug intake.

Limitations:

• Cannot track recent consumption: Detectable drug presence in hair takes roughly 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to alternate testing options.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair pigment and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Hansen, NE

Hair follicle testing offers superior advantages compared to urine tests. The ability to detect drugs over a longer timeframe and the near impossibility to adulterate the samples make it a top choice for ensuring a drug-free environment.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing is a critical advantage in Hansen, NE, as it can uncover substance use for up to 90 days. Employers gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual's history, aiding informed decisions regarding hiring or monitoring employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method is highly tamper-resistant, dramatically reducing the risk of sample adulteration in Hansen, NE. As a result, this method delivers consistently reliable and unquestionable test outcomes, providing peace of mind for all parties involved.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With a wide network of nationwide testing centers, including those in Hansen, NE, the process is convenient and accessible. Quick and simple access to hair follicle testing services ensures that businesses and individuals can easily meet their testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Hansen, NE, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. From ordering a test to receiving the results, each step prioritizes privacy and ease of use, addressing any concerns about discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Combining affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, our services in Hansen, NE offer exceptional value for businesses of all sizes. Competitive pricing structures ensure that high-quality testing is accessible without compromising on budget constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Hansen, NE, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. The precision in detecting substances is unparalleled, allowing for confident decision-making. The quick processing ensures that employers and individuals receive timely insights into substance use behaviors.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Hansen, NE can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. Adopting this method aligns with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks and enhancing overall safety for organizations.

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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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