Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dyer, NV

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has gained recognition as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive history of substance use by containing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When taken from near the scalp area, hair can provide a detection timeframe of up to roughly 3 months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, containing about 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the scalp will yield approximately 100mg of hair, which is the preferred quantity for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional tests or those exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair can be used as an alternative. When discussing head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in the lab analysis of a drug test include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory’s system. This step involves verifying the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary rapid assessment for drug abuse. While it’s a cost-efficient technique to exclude drug usage in most samples, for legal acceptance, any positive screening requires confirmation. Samples that test positive during Screening need further confirmation.

If the sample shows presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for preparation in the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are removed from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other techniques (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

Positive results from screening are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples with presumptive positive results are rinsed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection duration: Hair drug screenings can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to manipulate: The difficulty in compromising hair drug tests enhances result accuracy.
• Offers usage history: It can reflect a pattern of drug use over time, instead of only recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other testing approaches.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth might influence drug metabolite concentrations within the hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle underneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing stands above urine testing in Dyer, NV, by offering advantages in accuracy and reliability. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair tests provide a comprehensive detection window, ensuring employers and other stakeholders receive consistent and trustworthy results over a longer period. The superior detection capability of hair tests reduces the risk of false negatives, increasing trust in drug screening processes.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Dyer, NV, detect drug use over an extended period of up to 90 days. This broad window gives employers insight into an individual's long-term substance history. Hair testing provides a complete view of potential drug use patterns, allowing for a more informed assessment of an applicant or employee's suitability and reliability.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing procedure in Dyer, NV, is tamper-resistant, significantly decreasing the probability of sample adulteration. This trustworthy testing method guarantees results that are uncontestable and fortified against attempts to alter or mask actual drug use, thereby maintaining the integrity of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing centers nationwide and in Dyer, NV, accessing drug testing services is hassle-free and convenient. Whether locally or in another city, our extensive network provides quick accessibility to testing facilities, ensuring straightforward, stress-free service.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for conducting a hair follicle test in Dyer, NV, is renowned for being simple and confidential. From ordering the test to executing it and receiving the results, the procedure is designed to be user-friendly while upholding privacy, ensuring ease and discretion in drug testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Dyer, NV, our hair follicle tests come with affordable pricing and fast turnaround times. Our competitive pricing structure, combined with swift result delivery, offers exceptional value to businesses, assuring them of cost-efficient and timely drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Dyer, NV, hair follicle drug tests are known for their precision and immediate results. These tests offer a high degree of accuracy in identifying substance use history. The sophisticated technology ensures swift, reliable detection, catering to the needs of businesses and individuals seeking fast and dependable outcomes in drug testing.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Dyer, NV, achieve peace of mind and compliance with drug-free workplace policies through hair follicle testing. This testing method mitigates legal risks by ensuring rigorous observation and adherence to industry standards—promoting a protected, productive workplace 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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