Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Black Creek, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair offers a detection window of up to about 3 months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to collect, difficult to alter, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the ideal sample size for testing and confirming. For EtG, special requests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen size of 150mg is advised. We suggest measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. By head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial phase of processing a sample within a laboratory’s system. This incorporates confirming that the sample was properly sealed and sent, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data input not included in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for court admissibility. Samples that are tentatively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

In case of a presumptive positive result in the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging method.

For any positive screening results, Confirmation is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are potentially positive are cleansed before confirmation if required. The whole laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can detect drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection window.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Offers historical insight: It gives a timeline of drug use over an interval, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Variables like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite commonly being called "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Black Creek, NC, stands out for its superiority over traditional urine tests. While both methods aim to detect substance use, hair tests offer enhanced accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, which detect recent drug use, hair tests expose habits spanning up to 90 days, offering a clearer picture.

Extended Detection Window

In Black Creek, NC, hair follicle testing provides an extensive detection window, unveiling drug use over a period that reaches up to 90 days. This wide window is indispensable for employers seeking a comprehensive snapshot of an applicant or current employee's drug history, facilitating informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Black Creek, NC, hair follicle tests are a robust solution against sample tampering. Unlike other testing methods, hair tests are markedly resistant to adulteration, guaranteeing results that are both reliable and above reproach. This tamper-resistant nature ensures authenticity in drug testing analyses.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessing drug testing services is convenient in Black Creek, NC, thanks to our nationwide network of centers. Offering quick and hassle-free testing, our locations ensure that every client receives timely and efficient service, enhancing the overall experience of obtaining necessary hair follicle tests.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Black Creek, NC, our drug testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. From order placement to results retrieval, every step ensures privacy and ease of use. This streamlined system alleviates concerns, making it straightforward for individuals to participate in the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Finding a cost-effective and swift testing solution in Black Creek, NC, is achievable with our hair follicle drug tests. We offer competitive pricing and rapid result turnaround, delivering exceptional value for organizations regardless of size, and ensuring businesses receive the peace of mind they need.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Black Creek, NC, hair follicle drug tests are a hallmark of speed and precision. These tests not only provide quick results but also boast unparalleled accuracy in detecting substance use. With hair testing, individuals and organizations can rely on definitive outcomes, ensuring that decisions are made based on reliable data.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Black Creek, NC, find peace of mind through hair follicle testing. This method not only helps maintain compliance with drug-free workplace standards but also minimizes legal risks. By adopting this testing, companies bolster their safety protocols and foster a more secure work environment.

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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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