Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Osino, NV

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a compelling resource for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Through capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair, hair offers an extended historical record of drugs and alcohol. When taken right from the scalp, hair presents approximately a 3-month period for detection of alcohol and drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and uncomplicated to send.

A sample piece measuring 1.5 inches with roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp equals 100mg, the optimal sample for thorough screening and verification. For EtG additions or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. It is suggested to gauge the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent volume of body hair can be gathered. When referencing head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Processing a drug test in the lab involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial processing stage of incorporating a sample into a lab's system. It includes checks for correct sealing and shipping of the sample, random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) assignment, and completing further data entries not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a fast initial inspection for drugs of abuse. Although Screening efficiently rules out drug usage for most samples, a court-admissible positive screen requires confirmation. All samples that appear positive in Screening necessitate subsequent validation.

Should a sample appear positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. Drugs from hair at a far lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid) are extracted at this stage, rendering hair drug screening the most complex process to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive result during screening employs GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples appearing positive are washed before confirmation as necessary. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the complete lab process complies with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and meets ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can trace drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a briefer detection span.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Offers historical insight: It presents a pattern of drug use over time, not merely immediate consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur higher costs than other methods.
• Result discrepancies: Elements such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth may influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly dubbed as "hair follicle tests," the test evaluates the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Osino, NV, hair follicle testing outperforms urine tests in sensitivity and dependability. Notably, hair tests detect drug usage over longer periods, while urine tests offer limited windows of detection.

Employers and authorities benefit from hair analysis due to its inability to be easily sabotaged, ensuring a transparent and honest view of an individual’s drug history.

Extended Detection Window

Osino, NV trusts hair follicle testing for its extended detection abilities, identifying drug use up to 90 days. This broad window offers a complete overview of a subject's substance use history.

For employers, such insights are invaluable, granting a thorough understanding of an individual’s longer-term behaviors and choices regarding substances.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Osino, NV substantially reduces the potential for specimen tampering. This method of testing resists common adulteration techniques.

Due to its robust resistance to manipulation, hair testing provides solid, uncompromised results, ensuring the integrity of the screening process remains intact.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

For convenience in Osino, NV, Accredited Drug Testing offers nationwide test centers, providing easy access to hair follicle drug testing services.

Our widespread locations ensure services are quick, straightforward, and stress-free, actively meeting the needs of individuals across different regions.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Osino, NV, our hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential, catering to privacy expectations and user-friendliness.

From ordering the test to receiving results, the process is designed to offer an effortless experience, addressing users’ privacy and convenience concerns effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With attractive pricing and fast turnaround, hair follicle testing in Osino, NV provides excellent value for businesses of varying sizes.

These economical rates combined with speedy results make it a favorable choice for companies looking to implement or maintain comprehensive drug testing policies efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Osino, NV boasts outstanding accuracy and rapid results. As the preferred method, these tests ensure precise detection of various substances, providing dependable insights into substance use.

The swiftness of utilizing hair samples allows for timely results without sacrificing precision, making it an excellent choice for those seeking reliable drug testing solutions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Osino, NV gain peace of mind using hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with workplace drug policies. This method helps mitigate legal risks and supports a safer work environment.

By implementing such reliable screening techniques, employers ensure their commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace is robust and credible.

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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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