Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Paxton, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures biomarkers within the strands of growing hair, providing an extended record of alcohol and drug use. When cut close to the scalp, hair offers a detection timeframe of nearly three months for such substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG testing, add-ons, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is advised. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we exclusively refer to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step, integrating the sample into the laboratory system. This involves checking that the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data input not covered by the electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a preliminary evaluation for drug use. While Screening efficiently excludes drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed to be permissible in court. Any samples flagged as potentially positive during Screening need a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample emerges as presumptively positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction stage. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation for any positive Screening outcomes is done utilizing GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation, as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the accreditation according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: Hair drug testing is hard to tamper with, yielding more reliable results.
• Offers historical insight: It charts a drug use pattern over time, beyond just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to identify recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing methods.
• Result discrepancies: Individual factors like hair color and growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Paxton, NE, hair follicle testing emerges as superior to urine tests for numerous reasons. Hair tests offer better detection accuracy, revealing drug usage history across an extended timeframe, which is often invaluable for employers.

Unlike traditional urine tests, hair follicle analysis is less prone to manipulation, ensuring more reliable and honest results, thereby providing a clearer perspective on an individual's substance use patterns.

Extended Detection Window

One of the main advantages of hair follicle testing in Paxton, NE is its extended detection window of up to 90 days, offering a thorough account of a person’s drug use over time.

Employers benefit from this comprehensive view, enabling them to make informed decisions when evaluating the substance history of potential or current employees, ensuring workplace integrity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Paxton, NE greatly minimizes the chances of sample manipulation, leading to tamper-resistant results. This method ensures dependable and unquestioned outcomes.

The integrity of the sample is maintained throughout the process, safeguarding the accuracy of the test results and protecting the interests of both employers and employees.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Paxton, NE offers convenient access to drug testing with nationwide and local facilities. This wide network ensures quick and hassle-free service delivery.

Our extensive reach allows businesses and individuals easy access to testing centers, ensuring timely handling of all testing requirements without significant delay.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Paxton, NE is simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns from ordering to result reception.

This streamlined process ensures ease of use for both organizations and individuals, facilitating drug testing in a manner that protects personal information throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Paxton, NE, our hair follicle tests offer affordable pricing amidst rapid turnaround times, delivering excellent value for businesses of all sizes.

Competitive pricing structures combined with swift result delivery ensure that companies can efficiently manage their drug testing needs without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Paxton, NE provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests boast high precision in identifying substance use, enabling quick decisions regarding employment or compliance issues.

With advanced technology, hair tests ensure accurate detection, bypassing common pitfalls associated with other testing methods. This speed and precision make them a preferred choice for employers seeking dependable outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Incorporating hair follicle testing in Paxton, NE helps employers adhere to drug-free workplace policies. This compliance reduces legal risks and enhances workplace safety and productivity.

Employers who choose hair testing provide peace of mind for themselves and their employees, knowing they're maintaining a lawful and secure 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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