Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Harrisburg, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a significant means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged chronicle of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands of developing hair. When obtained near the scalp, hair provides an approximate 3-month window for detecting alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment containing roughly 200 strands of hair (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, the preferred sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplementary tests, and tests above 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. We advise measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a comparable volume of body hair may be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes every other hair type (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary phases in the lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a specimen into a laboratory’s system. This comprises ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any extra data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening involves a quick preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be acceptable in court. All presumptively positive samples in Screening require a secondary validation.

Should a sample appear presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for Extraction preparation. Drugs are then extracted in this stage from hair at a notably lower concentration than in other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging techniques to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests which feature a shorter detection window.
• Difficulty to cheat: It is very challenging to deceive a hair drug test, resulting in more precise outcomes.
• Provides historical data: It can offer a timeline of drug use over a duration, rather than solely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs take approximately 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests are typically costlier compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Variations in results: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the levels of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While often named "hair follicle tests", the examination analyzes the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Harrisburg, NE offers a distinct advantage over urine tests, primarily in accuracy and reliability. Convenience is key, as hair tests provide a longer detection range, capturing substance use history more effectively. By surpassing urine tests in identifying drug use over time, employers gain a comprehensive and accurate view of an individual's history.

Extended Detection Window

One compelling reason for choosing hair follicle testing in Harrisburg, NE is the extended detection window. Unlike other forms, hair tests can trace drug activity up to 90 days prior, providing a detailed history. This unmatched span gives employers insight into consistent patterns of substance use, rather than just recent activities.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant method in Harrisburg, NE. The nature of hair samples minimizes the risk of adulteration, ensuring unquestionable reliability. Where trust and integrity are paramount, hair testing stands out by delivering results that are difficult, if not impossible, to tamper with.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is at the forefront of drug testing services in Harrisburg, NE with numerous nationwide centers. This widespread accessibility ensures individuals can quickly and easily find a location for hair follicle testing. Our centers provide hassle-free services ensuring efficient testing experiences for all.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Harrisburg, NE, the process for hair follicle drug testing is both simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step is designed to safeguard privacy. Ease of use is a priority, ensuring comfort and confidentiality throughout the entire process remains intact.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

For businesses in Harrisburg, NE, competitive pricing and fast turnaround times make hair follicle testing an economical choice. Our affordable pricing structures guarantee excellent value, coupled with rapid delivery of results, providing companies with reliable and timely data for their needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Harrisburg, NE tout their speed and precision, offering quick and reliable results. These tests excel in the accuracy of detecting substance use, ensuring organizations can trust the data they receive. By choosing hair testing, employers are assured of results that are not only fast but also depict a true picture of an individual's substance habits.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Harrisburg, NE can achieve compliance and peace of mind knowing their workplace adheres to drug-free policies using hair follicle tests. By reducing legal risks and enhancing workplace safety, these tests ensure accountability and help maintain a healthy 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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