Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hazard, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has become recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair archives a long-duration record of substances by embedding markers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When hair is cut near the scalp, it can reveal drug and alcohol use for a period of up to 3 months. It is easy to collect hair samples, difficult to tamper with them, and simple to transport.

A sample of around 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hairs (similar to a #2 pencil's thickness) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, extra tests, or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale is suggested for measuring the specimen's weight. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other types, such as facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The four major procedures in processing a drug test result in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning focuses on the initial intake of a sample into a laboratory’s database. This process ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any missing data entry that the electronic chain of custody system doesn’t handle.

Screening performs an initial rapid evaluation for illicit drugs. While Screening is a budget-friendly method to exclude drug presence in most samples, any positive findings require confirmation for legal acceptability. All samples with tentative positive results in Screening need secondary verification.

If a sample tests as tentatively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction preparation. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), making hair drug testing one of the most challenging techniques to execute.

Confirmation of any tentative positive screening is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All potential positive samples undergo washing as necessary before confirmation. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug screenings can uncover drug usage up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests that provide a more limited detection timeframe.
• High defense against tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, thus resulting in more reliable findings.
• Reveals usage patterns: It offers an overall timeline of drug consumption, rather than only detecting recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to identify recent consumption: Detection in hair takes approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly compared to other testing options.
• Diversity in outcomes: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration within the hair.

Note: Tests often called "hair follicle tests" actually examine the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Hazard, NE, the superiority of hair follicle drug testing over urine testing is evident in various aspects. Hair testing can detect a broader range of substances over a longer time, delivering higher accuracy and unbeatable reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests are less prone to adulteration and offer a clearer view of an individual’s history of substance use, which is crucial for zero-tolerance policies.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Hazard, NE, favor hair follicle testing due to its extended detection window. Capable of tracing drug use up to 90 days, these tests provide a comprehensive overview of an applicant or employee's substance history. This extensive timeline allows companies to make better-informed decisions, ensuring a drug-free work environment with reliable historical insight into an individual's past substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing stands out in Hazard, NE, due to its tamper-resistant nature. By significantly lowering the chances of sample tampering, it provides credible and unquestionable results. This test eliminates tricks used in other testing methods, ensuring the reliability of outcomes. Such assurance is vital for maintaining integrity in the testing process, offering peace of mind to those requiring stringent compliance.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides unparalleled convenience with numerous testing centers across the nation, including locations in Hazard, NE. Offering easy access to hair follicle testing services, individuals and companies alike benefit from a hassle-free process. This nationwide network ensures timely testing, accommodating both local and regional needs efficiently, making drug testing less burdensome.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Hazard, NE, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be straightforward and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step ensures privacy and ease. This method alleviates concerns about confidentiality, offering a seamless experience for users who prioritize discretion and simplicity in their drug testing services, contributing to stress-free compliance.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Hazard, NE, is committed to providing affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times. Their competitive pricing structures fit businesses of all sizes, ensuring excellent value. Quick results enhance peace of mind, enabling employers to make prompt and informed decisions, fostering a culture of safety and reliability without straining budget constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Hazard, NE, hair follicle drug testing is renowned for its precision and swiftness. The advanced capability of these tests makes them highly reliable for detecting substance use. Offering fast and accurate results, hair follicle testing becomes the preferred choice for individuals and employers wanting a trustworthy assessment of drug use patterns. The high accuracy rate diminishes the likelihood of errors in test outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Hazard, NE, ensuring compliance with workplace drug policies is crucial for employers. Hair follicle testing offers peace of mind by significantly reducing legal risks associated with non-compliance and reinforcing workplace safety. This method not only meets rigorous standards but also helps maintain a drug-free environment, bolstering productivity and trust within the workforce.

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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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