Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cliffside, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a comprehensive history of substance use. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug usage over approximately a three-month period. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample length of 1.5 inches with about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp offers 100mg of hair, the perfect amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or those beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's advisable to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is scarce, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. By "head hair," we strictly mean scalp hair. "Body hair" includes other types, such as facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

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

During Accessioning, the sample becomes integrated into the lab’s system. This step confirms that the sample has been properly sealed and delivered, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data not captured by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as an initial, swift assessment for drug presence. Though cost-effective for negating drug use in many samples, a positive result here must be confirmed to hold legal validity. Presumptively positive samples in Screening warrant additional confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for further testing. Drugs are then extracted from the hair at a lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug testing particularly complex.

Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to the standards set by both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection range: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests cover a shorter timeframe.
• Resistance to tampering: The difficulty in cheating a hair drug test enhances the accuracy of results.
• Historical insight: They reveal drug usage patterns over time, not just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Late detection of recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days before drugs become traceable in hair.
• Higher expense: Hair drug testing is typically pricier than alternative methods.
• Result variability: Differences such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact drug metabolite levels within the hair.

Note: Despite the term "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Cliffside, NC, the benefit of hair follicle testing against traditional urine tests is clear. Unlike urine tests that detect recent use, hair follicle tests offer a more extensive detection period. This provides a more comprehensive view of an individual's drug history, making it a preferred choice for employers and professionals looking for accurate and reliable substance detection methods.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, covering up to 90 days of substance use history in Cliffside, NC. This makes it an invaluable tool for employers needing a clear overview of an applicant’s or employee's drug habits over time. By turning to hair tests, organizations ensure a thorough insight into personnel behavior and safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing drastically reduces the likelihood of sample tampering in Cliffside, NC. This method is designed to provide reliable and doubt-free results, removing any scope for adulteration. Its stringent collection and analysis process ensure that the integrity of the test cannot be compromised, thus maintaining credibility.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide and local testing centers in Cliffside, NC, provide unmatched convenience. Offering straightforward and stress-free access to testing services, individuals can easily find a nearby location. This widespread availability ensures that testing is a seamless process for everyone involved, minimizing logistical concerns.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Cliffside, NC, the process of conducting hair follicle tests is simple and confidential. From ordering to taking and receiving results, the procedure addresses privacy worries with ease. This ensures that individuals can follow the testing steps comfortably, knowing that their personal information remains secure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and swift turnaround times make hair follicle testing in Cliffside, NC, an attractive option for businesses. Offering great value for money, companies of all sizes benefit from this cost-effective solution. By opting for hair testing, organizations receive prompt results that are both economical and efficient.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle test is synonymous with rapid, precise, and reliable results in Cliffside, NC. This method accurately identifies substance use with a high level of precision, significantly reducing the possibility of false positives. It stands as a benchmark in drug testing for its ability to swiftly deliver dependable outcomes, making it ideal for employers seeking trustworthy data.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

With a focus on compliance, hair follicle testing offers peace of mind for employers in Cliffside, NC. It supports adherence to workplace drug-free policies, mitigating legal challenges and boosting safety. By adopting this testing method, organizations can confidently maintain a secure and compliant 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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