Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Union, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now regarded as a valuable asset for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of its growing strand. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hairs (around the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, additional types, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to use 150mg of the sample. We advise measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key phases in the lab processing of a drug test result encompass Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s system. This step includes confirming that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any missing data not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive result needs verification to be valid in court. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening call for further confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug examination the most complex methodology to conduct.

Verification of any positive screening result is done via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter time frame.
• Strong resistance to tampering: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insight: It delivers a timeframe of drug use patterns, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become apparent in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug examinations are typically more costly than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests," this test actually analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When it comes to drug testing in Union, NE, hair follicle tests offer superior advantages over conventional urine tests. The detection rates with hair testing are significantly higher, providing more dependable and precise outcomes.

Unlike urine tests that offer a limited detection timeframe, hair tests afford a broader view of an individual's substance use over the past 90 days. This extended visibility is crucial for employers enforcing strict drug-free policies, ensuring more reliable screening.

Extended Detection Window

In Union, NE, hair follicle testing grants a longer history of substance use detection, up to 90 days. This capability provides a comprehensive picture of an individual's drug use, which is invaluable for employers aiming to maintain a drug-free workplace.

This extended detection period offered by hair testing gives employers in Union, NE, the tools necessary for making sound hiring decisions, ensuring the integrity of their business environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Union, NE, are inherently tamper-resistant, drastically reducing the potential for sample adulteration. This reliability ensures results are accurate and unquestionable.

By minimizing the risk of tampering, hair tests provide a trustworthy method for drug testing. Employers and judicial systems can rest assured of their results in Union, NE, leading to more informed decisions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Union, NE, boasts the benefit of convenient nationwide testing centers, ensuring that individuals and businesses have quick access to drug testing services, locally and beyond.

Our extensive network ensures that testing is both accessible and hassle-free, reducing the time and effort needed for reliable substance testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle drug testing in Union, NE, is straightforward and confidential, from ordering to test-taking to receiving results, prioritizing privacy and simplicity.

This seamless process addresses privacy concerns while ensuring that individuals and organizations can easily engage in essential drug testing services without complications.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Union, NE, offers competitive pricing and fast turnaround for hair follicle testing, providing excellent value for businesses of all sizes, ensuring budget-friendly access to top-notch testing services.

The affordable nature of these tests does not compromise on quality or speed, ensuring quick, reliable results, which play a critical role in company operations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Union, NE, hair follicle drug tests are known for their speed and precision. Their ability to accurately detect substances is unmatched, providing a high degree of accuracy, which is essential for those requiring fast and dependable results.

These tests not only deliver accurate outcomes but do so swiftly, ensuring that individuals and organizations in Union, NE, can trust the data received, making informed decisions swiftly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Union, NE, benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies, which enhances safety and reduces legal exposure.

This form of testing supports businesses in maintaining a secure environment, providing peace of mind and aligning with stringent compliance requirements, crucial for a law-abiding operation.

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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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