Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ansonville, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is widely acknowledged as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug detection by capturing biomarkers in the fiber structure of the hair strand as it grows. When collected from near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to approximately three months for alcohol and substances. Hair is easy to obtain, relatively challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, containing roughly 200 strands of hair (similar to the size of a #2 pencil) and harvested nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for both screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, it's suggested to use 150mg of the specimen. Use a jeweler’s scale for precise weighing. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent amount of body hair may be gathered. By “head hair,” we mean specifically scalp hair. “Body hair” encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing for drug test results includes the following principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory’s framework. This process ensures the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and enacts any further data entries not furnished by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a swift preliminary review for drugs of abuse. While Screening is economically effective for eliminating drug presence in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be substantiated to be deemed valid in court. Any samples that are initially positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample is positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All initially positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair tests can pinpoint drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Hair drug tests are notably difficult to deceive, thereby increasing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It can illustrate a timeline of drug use beyond recent occurrences.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other drug testing solutions.
• Result variability: Certain elements like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the process examines the hair shaft and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle tests to traditional urine tests in Ansonville, NC, the benefits are clear. Hair tests offer superior detection for various substances, capturing drug use history more accurately. Unlike urine tests, which can be more limited in their detection window, hair analysis provides a comprehensive view of an individual's substance use.

Urine tests might still hold value for more immediate detection, but in terms of long-term substance monitoring, hair follicle testing shines as a more effective alternative. Its reliability and accuracy make it an invaluable tool for both employers and legal entities.

Extended Detection Window

In Ansonville, NC, the extended detection capabilities of hair follicle testing offer tremendous advantages. Spanning up to 90 days, this method enables employers to gain thorough insights into potential employees' or current staff's substance use history. This extended window surpasses the capability of typical urine tests.

The elongated detection period provided by hair testing means employers can make well-informed decisions regarding their workforce's integrity and compliance with drug-free work policies, ensuring safety and productivity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Ansonville, NC is renowned for its resistance to tampering. This method drastically reduces the risk of sample adulteration, leading to results that are both reliable and undeniable. The inherent nature of hair samples makes them far less susceptible to manipulation compared to other testing methods.

Employers and judicial systems can benefit from this level of security, knowing the integrity of the test results is maintained, thereby reinforcing trust and ensuring honest reporting.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing boasts a network of nationwide testing centers, including convenient local sites in Ansonville, NC. Our expansive reach provides both individuals and organizations with easy and accessible testing solutions.

With locations widespread, finding a nearby testing center is hassle-free, allowing quick access to essential testing services without the inconvenience of extensive travel.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Ansonville, NC is designed to be both straightforward and private. Ordering, conducting, and receiving results are streamlined to alleviate the concerns regarding privacy and complexity.

This confidentiality ensures peace of mind for those undergoing testing, while the simplicity of the procedure makes it accessible and efficient for everyone involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Ansonville, NC, our hair follicle testing services offer affordable pricing paired with quick turnaround times. This combination provides optimal value for companies, irrespective of their size.

Competitive pricing allows organizations to implement comprehensive drug testing programs without financial strain, while the rapid delivery of results ensures minimal disruption to operations, guaranteeing satisfaction on all fronts.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Ansonville, NC, hair follicle drug tests provide swift and precise results, setting them apart in terms of accuracy. With unmatched speed, these tests can swiftly confirm substance use, ensuring reliability. This efficiency is crucial for both individuals and organizations seeking dependable outcomes in their drug testing procedures.

The high accuracy of hair follicle tests means you can trust the results, providing you with confidence in the evaluation process. The swiftness of these tests allows for quick decision-making, which is critical for any entity monitoring substance use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Ansonville, NC employers, using hair follicle testing instills peace of mind by ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies. Compliance not only reduces potential legal risks but also enhances workplace safety by identifying substance abuse issues early on.

Employers can feel confident that they're upholding a safe and compliant work environment, making this method invaluable for businesses striving to maintain integrity and security.

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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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