Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Nemaha, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a significant method for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a historical record of alcohol and other substance use. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use over a period of up to three months. Hair collection is straightforward, tamper-resistant, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch hair segment of around 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the perfect quantity for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. In cases where scalp hair is missing, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. Our reference to head hair pertains only to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome involves four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially entered into a laboratory's system. This involves confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for drug presence. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Any tentatively positive samples in Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample shows a tentative positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and processed for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging procedure.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all tentatively positive samples are washed as necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection windows.
• Hard to manipulate: Hair drug tests are extremely challenging to tamper with, increasing the reliability of results.
• Tracks use over time: It provides insight into patterns of drug use over an extended period, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• No detection of recent usage: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the examination is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Nemaha, NE, offers a distinct advantage over traditional urine tests in its superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests have their place, hair testing can identify drug use over a much longer period, providing a more comprehensive look into an individual's substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

The beauty of hair follicle testing in Nemaha, NE, is its extended detection window. Capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior, hair tests provide employers with a clear view of an individual’s substance use history, offering more insight than shorter detection periods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Nemaha, NE, significantly reduce the chance of sample adulteration, making them a tamper-resistant testing method. The collection process is observant and secure, offering reliable results that are hard to dispute, ensuring validity and trustworthiness.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our convenient nationwide testing locations ensure that residents and businesses in Nemaha, NE, have quick and easy access to hair follicle testing. With a network that spans the country, obtaining a test is hassle-free, catering to both national and local testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Nemaha, NE, is simple and confidential. From ordering the test to taking it and receiving the results, each step is designed with privacy in mind, ensuring a seamless and secure experience for all participants.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

We offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround on hair follicle tests in Nemaha, NE. Our competitive rates combined with quick result times provide excellent value, giving companies of all sizes peace of mind and financial efficiency for their testing needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Nemaha, NE, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests ensure high precision in identifying substance use, making them an ideal choice for various testing needs. Hair testing quickly detects substances with a high degree of reliability, ensuring that the results you receive are trustworthy and prompt.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Nemaha, NE, hair follicle testing can foster compliance and peace of mind. By ensuring drug-free workplace policies are upheld, employers can decrease legal risks and enhance safety, knowing they are utilizing compliant and reliable testing methods.

Drug Testing Near Nemaha, NE

Barada, NE

Cook, NE

Tecumseh, NE

Verdon, NE

Lorton, NE

Humboldt, NE

Elk Creek, NE

Paul, NE

Shubert, NE

Talmage, NE

Stella, NE

Julian, NE

Peru, NE

Howe, NE

Auburn, NE

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews