Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Trego, NV

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of substance use by incorporating biomarkers into the fibers of the growing strand. When sampled near the scalp, hair can provide a detection period of up to approximately three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to alter, and convenient to send.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG tests, add-ons, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg is preferred. We advise measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair might be gathered. When discussing head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The core steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory’s system. It involves ensuring that the sample was effectively sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid test for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly means to eliminate drug presence in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be court-admissible. Any samples presumed positive in Screening require secondary confirmation.

If a specimen tests presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, substances are extracted from hair at a considerably lower concentration than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing notably challenging to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptively positive are washed before confirmation if needed. The full laboratory sequence from Accessioning through Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair mandate and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which offer a shorter detection window.
• Difficult to manipulate: It is extremely tough to deceive a hair drug test, which enhances the accuracy of the results.
• Offers comprehensive data: It can reveal a pattern of substance use over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapaable of detecting recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing hair follicle and urine tests in Trego, NV, reveals hair testing’s superior accuracy and reliability.
With a longer detection period, hair tests provide a comprehensive view of substance use, unlike urine tests, which cover a shorter time span. This makes hair testing ideal for employers seeking a thorough drug history assessment.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Trego, NV, offers an extended detection window, identifying drug use up to 90 days.
Employers benefit from a detailed overview of substance use, allowing for informed hiring decisions and ensuring a drug-free workplace environment over an extended period.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Trego, NV, hair follicle testing minimizes the risk of tampering or sample adulteration.
This method delivers reliable and unquestionable results, offering peace of mind to employers and ensuring the integrity of the drug testing process. It significantly reduces the chances of falsified results compared to other methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of nationwide testing centers, including those in Trego, NV, offers quick and efficient access to hair follicle testing.
With a wide network of locations, individuals and companies enjoy hassle-free testing services, ensuring timely and convenient assessments anytime, anywhere.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple and confidential hair follicle testing process in Trego, NV, ensures privacy and convenience.
From ordering to receiving results, this streamlined process addresses privacy concerns effectively. It is designed to be user-friendly, making drug testing less intrusive and more manageable for all parties involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Trego, NV provides exceptional value.
Affordable pricing structures cater to companies of all sizes, ensuring they receive prompt and reliable results without breaking the bank, enhancing peace of mind and overall value.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Trego, NV, provides fast, reliable, and precise results, surpassing traditional methods. The accuracy of this technique in identifying drug use is unmatched, making it a preferred choice for employers.
Individuals can expect precise results showcasing any substance use, helping ensure the safety and reliability of workplace environments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Trego, NV, gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
This method reduces legal risks and boosts workplace safety, vital for maintaining a secure and productive work environment, especially in high-risk industries.

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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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