Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Murdock, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is regarded as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair accumulates a prolonged history of substances by encapsulating biomarkers within its fibers. When taken from the scalp, this sample could reveal a drug and alcohol usage history extending to 3 months. Collecting hair is straightforward, tampering is relatively challenging, and shipping is convenient.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 strands (equivalent to the width of a #2 pencil) near the scalp is required to obtain 100mg for initial testing and validation. For advanced or specific screenings, 150mg is advised. We suggest weighing samples on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. "Head hair" pertains specifically to the scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes facial, axillary, and other types.

Process Overview

The drug testing procedure in laboratories includes four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to incorporating the sample into the lab’s system. This step ensures that the specimen was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and enters any data missed by the digital chain of custody.

Screening allows for an initial drug presence check. Although it is a cost-effective means to rule out drugs in most samples, positive screenings need a confirmed result to be legally admissible. Presumptive positives in screening need further confirmation steps.

If a sample displays a presumptive positive during Screening, more strands are retrieved for Extraction. This phase separates the drugs at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), accentuating the complexity of hair drug tests.

Positive Screening results undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. As needed, all samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation. All processes from Accessioning through Confirmation are scrutinized to meet both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair requirements and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair analysis can reveal drug use history for about 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter history.
• Hard to tamper: The integrity of hair drug results is more reliable due to the complexity of test evasion.
• Depicts historical use: Beyond current usage, the tests show a pattern of substance use over a duration.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: A period of 5-7 days is necessary before drugs manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair testing usually incurs higher costs compared to other testing approaches.
• Inconsistent results: Factors like individual hair growth and color may affect drug metabolite levels.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", these assessments analyze the strand and not the underlying follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Opt for Hair over Urine Testing in Murdock, NE
Hair follicle assays offer a superior alternative to urine tests due to their enhanced detection accuracy. While traditional urine tests serve specific purposes, hair testing outperforms them by revealing extended drug histories.

This testing method provides Murdock, NE, employers and courts with a comprehensive view of substance use over time, ensuring thorough assessments and aiding in maintaining safer environments.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Murdock, NE
One major advantage of hair testing is its ability to detect drug use up to 90 days back. This extended window offers employers a more comprehensive look at an individual's substance use habits compared to shorter-term methods.

In Murdock, NE, this extended detection capability of hair follicle tests enables employers to better understand an applicant’s or employee’s long-term drug use patterns, assisting in informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing in Murdock, NE
Hair follicle tests offer a reliable solution due to their robust resistance to tampering. Unlike other tests, where sample adulteration is a concern, hair testing ensures the integrity of collected samples.

In Murdock, NE, hair testing minimizes the risk of fraudulent results, providing trust in the outcomes. This reduces legal risks for employers and promotes fair evaluations in court cases.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations in Murdock, NE
Our extensive network ensures easy access to hair testing services, both nationwide and locally in Murdock, NE.

With strategically positioned centers, clients can experience hassle-free testing processes, ensuring swift and convenient access to essential services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Confidential and Simple Process in Murdock, NE
Ordering and completing a hair follicle test is straightforward and secure, prioritizing user privacy throughout the process.

In Murdock, NE, individuals and companies alike can depend on a confidential testing environment, ensuring ease of taking the test and receiving results discreetly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Quick Results in Murdock, NE
Our competitive pricing combined with fast turnaround times provides significant value, ensuring satisfaction for all company sizes.

Businesses in Murdock, NE, can rely on our cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality or speed, enhancing overall satisfaction and peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Precise Outcomes in Murdock, NE
Hair follicle drug tests stand out for their ability to deliver prompt and accurate results. This method identifies substance use with high precision, which not only enhances reliability but also offers timely insights into drug usage history.

With advanced technology, hair testing efficiently uncovers substance use, promising quick turnaround times. In Murdock, NE, you can count on this method for both speed and accuracy, making it a reliable choice for various testing needs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Murdock, NE
Utilizing hair follicle testing helps employers maintain a drug-free workplace, ensuring compliance with legal standards and enhancing safety.

Employers in Murdock, NE, benefit from this method's comprehensive detection capabilities, lowering legal risks and fostering a drug-free work culture.

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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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