Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Crossnore, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a significant method for detecting alcohol and drug consumption. Hair offers an extended history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. Collected near the scalp, hair can show drug and alcohol use within an approximately three-month timeframe. It’s easy to gather, difficult to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of around 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, optimal for testing and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is suggested. We advise measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair is absent, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other types (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial stage of integrating a specimen into the lab’s system, ensuring the sample is properly sealed and delivered, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) randomly, and completing any manual data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a preliminary assessment for substance abuse. Screening is an economical way to eliminate drug use for most samples, though a positive result must be validated for it to be legally viable. Presumptive positives from Screening require further confirmation.

If Screening results are presumptively positive, more hair is extracted from the original sample and is prepped for Extraction. In Extraction, drug compounds are removed from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug testing the most challenging in terms of technique.

Positive screening results are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Necessary washing of presumptive positive samples occurs before confirmation. The entire testing process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, thus ensuring result accuracy.
• Shows usage patterns: Indicates a history of drug use over time, beyond just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Cannot track recent intake: Hair takes around 5-7 days to show drug presence.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally incurs higher costs compared to other methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test focuses on the hair strands themselves, not the follicles beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Crossnore, NC, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, which have a short detection window, hair tests capture a longer history of substance use. With their reliable detection capabilities, hair follicle tests provide a more comprehensive evaluation, proving a more effective option for those seeking accuracy in drug testing.

Extended Detection Window

In Crossnore, NC, the extended detection window of hair follicle tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days prior. This longer window provides employers with a detailed overview of an individual's substance usage history, offering important insights into behavior patterns over time. By assessing drug use over a substantial period, businesses gain a more informed perspective on an applicant or employee.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Crossnore, NC, are lauded for their tamper-resistant qualities. Unlike other testing methods, hair tests are difficult to adulterate, ensuring the collected samples are reliable. This resistance to manipulation makes hair follicle testing a trustworthy method, providing employers and testers with unquestionable results and eliminating concerns about sample integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Across Crossnore, NC, and nationwide, our testing centers offer convenience and accessibility. With numerous locations, individuals can find quick and hassle-free testing services near them. This accessibility ensures that workplace or personal drug testing is conducted efficiently, saving time and effort while guaranteeing reliable service wherever it is needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

The drug testing process in Crossnore, NC, is simple and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step is designed to preserve privacy and ease of use. Individuals benefit from a streamlined process that respects confidentiality, addressing the need for discreet and straightforward testing that delivers peace of mind alongside accurate results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Crossnore, NC, our drug testing services are designed to be affordable and timely. Competitive pricing ensures cost-efficiency, while quick turnaround times offer prompt results. For businesses of any size, this means excellent value and the assurance of rapid, dependable testing outcomes, making hair follicle tests both cost-effective and efficient.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Crossnore, NC, stand out for their prompt and precise outcomes. Known for pinpoint accuracy, they efficiently detect a wide range of substances, making them a reliable choice for testing. With quick processing and results, hair tests are an effective tool for identifying substance use, ensuring that results are both fast and dependable.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Crossnore, NC, benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method reduces the risk of legal complications and enhances workplace safety. By implementing hair testing, businesses can maintain a safe environment and provide peace of mind, knowing they are on the right side of compliance and risk management.

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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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