Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Catawba, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is acknowledged as a robust method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive history of alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When taken from near the scalp, hair can present a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, reasonably resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

Gathering a 1.5-inch sample of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, optional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. It's suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair isn’t available, a comparable amount of body hair may be collected. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test outcome consists of four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial procedure of integrating a sample into a lab's system. It encompasses validation that the sample was appropriately sealed and shipped, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) randomly, and filling in any additional data absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts a preliminary fast appraisal for drugs. Though Screening is a cost-effective approach to negate drug use in most samples, a positive result must be corroborated for court admission. Samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening require a further confirmation step.

For samples presumptively positive in Screening, more hair is extracted from the primary specimen and prepped for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations far lower than those in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening areas takes place through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positivity undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory journey from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and certified to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a narrower detection period.
• Testing integrity: Hair drug tests are very challenging to falsify, granting more precise results.
• Records of usage pattern: It enables the detection of a drug use pattern over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Constraints:

• Recent use: Drugs need around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually incur higher costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair pigmentation and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Outperforms Urine Testing in Catawba, NC
Hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests by providing an extended window of detection, which is crucial for employers seeking to maintain a safe and compliant workplace. Its superior accuracy in identifying long-term drug use makes it the preferred choice for many organizations, including those with zero-tolerance policies.

Extended Detection Window

Comprehensive Drug Use Detection with Hair Follicle Testing in Catawba, NC
The primary advantage of hair follicle tests is their ability to detect drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days. This offers employers a detailed view of an individual’s substance use history, aiding informed decisions for hiring or maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Reliable Hair Follicle Testing in Catawba, NC
Hair follicle testing is highly resistant to tampering, providing reliable results that can be trusted. This method minimizes the risk of adulteration that is often a concern with other types of drug tests, ensuring the integrity of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations Nationwide and in Catawba, NC
With testing centers located across the nation, including locally in Catawba, NC, accessing testing services is both quick and hassle-free. This network ensures prompt and efficient testing available to meet the needs of individuals and businesses alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

Effortless and Confidential Testing Process in Catawba, NC
The hair follicle testing process is straightforward and maintains the confidentiality of all parties involved. From ordering the test to receiving the results, the procedure is designed to be simple, addressing privacy concerns and ensuring ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective Hair Follicle Testing Solutions in Catawba, NC
Our competitive pricing structure paired with fast turnaround times makes hair follicle testing an affordable choice for businesses of any size. This balance of cost and efficiency provides excellent value, ensuring employers receive quick results and peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Drug Testing in Catawba, NC
Hair follicle testing stands out for delivering quick, precise, and dependable outcomes. This method ensures that substance use is detected with high accuracy, providing both employers and individuals with trustworthy and timely results, which is essential for maintaining workplace safety and compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Assuring Compliance and Safety with Hair Follicle Testing in Catawba, NC
Hair follicle testing plays a vital role in helping employers adhere to drug-free workplace policies. It reduces legal risks by ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and enhances workplace safety by accurately detecting substance use over time.

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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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