Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Andrews, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective tool for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand, hair offers a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs. When clipped near the scalp, it can reveal evidence of alcohol and drug use for approximately up to a 3-month period. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprised of roughly 200 strands of hair (about the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for testing and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be taken. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab’s system. This process involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and delivered, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial swift assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, any positive screens must be verified to be court-admissible. Samples that screen as presumptively positive necessitate additional confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction process. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to perform.

Any positive screening result must be confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that screen positive are cleaned before confirming as necessary. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: It’s notably challenging to falsify a hair drug test, thus enhancing the reliability of results.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal patterns of drug use over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It generally takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The advantages of hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests in Andrews, NC, are evident. Hair tests demonstrate superior accuracy, offering a longer detection window and reducing the possibilities for deceit during sample collection. Whereas urine tests provide shorter detection periods, hair testing identifies substance use across months, providing thorough and reliable insights.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Andrews, NC, provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This feature enables employers to obtain a comprehensive review of an individual's substance history. By looking beyond the typical short-term scope of alternative tests, organizations gain a clearer understanding of an employee's or applicant's drug consumption patterns over a more extensive timeframe.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Operating in Andrews, NC, hair follicle drug testing presents a tamper-resistant method that greatly minimizes the risk of adulterated samples. This testing technique ensures dependable outcomes, as the complexity of altering hair samples affirms the integrity and authenticity of the final results, providing unquestionable data that stakeholders can rely on with confidence.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing locations nationwide, including Andrews, NC, Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient, accessible, and hassle-free drug testing services. Whether locally or across cities, our centers provide easy access to reliable testing, minimizing logistical challenges and ensuring efficient service delivery without distance constraints.

Simple, Confidential Process

Offering a simple and confidential process, drug testing in Andrews, NC, maintains user privacy and ease of use. The straightforward procedure involves seamless ordering, administering, and result delivery, all within a discreet framework that respects individual privacy and promotes confidence throughout the entire testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Andrews, NC, Accredited Drug Testing is committed to affordable pricing, coupled with fast turnaround times. Our competitive rates and swift results ensure that businesses of varying sizes receive exceptional value and reassurance. This model offers substantial benefits without compromising on quality or efficiency in service delivery.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Andrews, NC, hair follicle drug testing is renowned for its fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. It efficiently detects even trace amounts of substances with high precision, eliminating the guesswork often associated with other testing methods. This sophisticated testing approach ensures prompt and reflective results that employers and individuals can trust without delay.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Emphasizing compliance and peace of mind for employers in Andrews, NC, hair follicle testing secures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This method substantially mitigates legal liabilities and amplifies safety within the work environment, promoting a lawful and secure operational atmosphere for businesses.

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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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