Hair Follicle Drug Testing - North Bend, NE

What it is, How it works

Recognized as a potent instrument, hair testing is crucial for identifying alcohol and drug use. Hair strands capture a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug activity by ensnaring biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. When clipped near the scalp, these strands can reveal drug and alcohol use up to an estimated three-month period. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and simple to transport.

Procuring a 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for testing and validation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding ten, a sample of 150mg is preferable. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair not be an option, an equivalent volume of body hair may be used. References to head hair specifically denote scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process of analyzing a drug test result encompasses four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary stage where a sample is integrated into a lab’s system. This step involves ensuring the sample has been sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any additional information not enclosed in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening refers to the primary rapid assessment for detecting drug abuse. Although cost-efficient for eliminating drug use in the bulk of samples, a positive screening must undergo confirmation to hold up in legal proceedings. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

Upon a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the primary sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are drawn out from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which makes hair drug testing particularly challenging to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is achieved through techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Necessary presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation. The entirety of the lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and upholds accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection: Hair tests can identify drug usage over a span of up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which detect more recent use.
• Resistance to tampering: With hair drug tests, cheating is exceptionally challenging, lending more precision to the results.
• Insightful records: Hair tests provide an overview of drug usage patterns across an extended period, unlike tests that only detect recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect most recent use: Drugs require roughly 5-7 days to become traceable in hair samples.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing approaches.
• Result fluctuations: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth may influence the drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Known as "hair follicle tests", these tests actually examine the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In North Bend, NE, hair follicle screening surpasses traditional urine tests due to its enhanced detection accuracy. Hair tests offer reliability and longer detection windows, setting them apart from more conventional methods.

Extended Detection Window

Providing an extensive detection window, hair follicle testing in North Bend, NE, spans up to 90 days. This ensures that employers can gain a thorough insight into an individual’s substance usage history.
Extended observation offers invaluable data for informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle examinations in North Bend, NE, are noteworthy for their resistance to tampering. These tests minimize the chance of sample adulteration, rendering results both reliable and irrefutable.Enforcement of integrity is unmatched.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Offering nationwide testing centers alongside local ones in North Bend, NE, ensures a smooth and accessible testing process. This means hassle-free and swift access to necessary testing services wherever required.

Simple, Confidential Process

The procedure for hair follicle tests in North Bend, NE, is straightforward and private. From ordering to testing, to receiving results, the entire process respects confidentiality and is user-friendly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Presenting competitive pricing and rapid turnaround in North Bend, NE, hair follicle drug tests provide excellent value. Businesses of all sizes can enjoy the assurance that comes with efficient and cost-effective testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In North Bend, NE, hair follicle tests stand out with their swift and precise outcomes. Hair tests offer a high level of accuracy in identifying substance use, ensuring results that professionals can trust.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In North Bend, NE, utilizing hair follicle assessments helps employers maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies. Employers benefit from reduced legal exposure and improved workplace safety.

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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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