Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bellemont, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for detecting alcohol and drug consumption. By trapping biomarkers within its fibers, hair offers a long-term record of substance use. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use for up to about three months. This method of sample collection is straightforward, tough to tamper with, and easy to send for analysis.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches and containing around 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp is ideal, providing 100mg necessary for both screening and verification. In cases involving EtG, add-ons, or tests beyond ten-panel examinations, 150mg is advised. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement. If no scalp hair is accessible, a comparable quantity of body hair may be employed. By head hair, we mean solely scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses other types like facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The primary stages in processing a drug test in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In the Accessioning phase, a sample is initially logged into a laboratory’s system. This step involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, allocating a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening offers an initial rapid check for substance abuse. Although economical for ruling out drug use in most cases, a positive result in Screening requires validation for legal acceptance. Any presumptive positive samples in this phase need a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. During Extraction, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing a complex process to execute.

Confirming any positive Screening results utilizes GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under both the CAP Hair classification and accreditation following ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can track drug use for up to 90 days, while urine testing offers a shorter window.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is particularly challenging, leading to more reliable results.
• Shows drug usage patterns: It offers insights into drug usage patterns over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days post-consumption for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug testing incurs higher costs compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color or individual hair growth rates may influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bellemont, NC
Hair follicle testing offers a more reliable and accurate alternative to traditional urine tests in Bellemont, NC. Its superior detection abilities overshadow urine tests, providing a more comprehensive overview of an individual's drug consumption history, especially with the extended detection window of up to 90 days.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bellemont, NC
In Bellemont, NC, hair follicle testing provides a remarkable extended detection period, capable of identifying drug intake for up to 90 days. This extended detection is crucial for employers who wish to explore an applicant or current employee's substance history comprehensively, ensuring a safer workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bellemont, NC
The hair follicle testing method practiced in Bellemont, NC, greatly reduces the potential for tampering. Unlike other techniques, it ensures that the results are both reliable and impossible to alter, thereby guaranteeing unquestionable analyses in substance detection.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bellemont, NC
Accredited Drug Testing offers a vast network of testing centers that covers nationwide locations, including Bellemont, NC. Accessing testing services close to home or across the nation has never been easier, ensuring that testing is quick, easy, and hassle-free for all users.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bellemont, NC
In Bellemont, NC, the process of hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step respects privacy and emphasizes ease of use, ensuring clients are comfortable in knowing their information is protected and easily accessible.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bellemont, NC
Our competitive pricing structure, coupled with fast result turnaround times in Bellemont, NC, ensures that companies, regardless of size, receive excellent value. This affordable approach provides peace of mind and efficient service without compromising on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bellemont, NC
Hair follicle drug tests in Bellemont, NC, are lauded for their rapidity and precision. These tests don't just provide quick outcomes, but they also ensure an unparalleled level of accuracy when detecting substance use. The speed and reliability of these tests make them a preferred choice for employers and individuals alike, striving for trustworthy results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bellemont, NC
Employers in Bellemont, NC, using hair follicle tests ensure compliance with drug-free workplace mandates, mitigating legal liabilities, and cultivating enhanced safety within the workplace. It offers peace of mind, knowing that policies are adhered to, and workplace harmony is maintained.

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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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