Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dixon, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair records extended alcohol and drug history by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair shaft as it grows. Collected near the scalp, hair can indicate substance use up to roughly 3 months prior. Gathering hair is straightforward, moderately resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment containing roughly 200 strands of hair (comparable in diameter to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp provides 100mg, which is the optimal quantity for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or testing beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing. In absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair may be utilized. When referencing head hair, it pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair includes every other type (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning initiates the sample processing within a laboratory’s framework. This step involves ensuring the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other necessary data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for the presence of drugs of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-effective means to eliminate most cases of drug use, a confirmed result is needed for legal admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the sample for further preparation in the Extraction stage. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug testing the most challenging method to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive result from Screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair accreditation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can detect drugs for as long as 90 days, surpassing urine tests which offer shorter detection spans.
• Hard to falsify: Tampering with a hair drug test is exceptionally challenging, ensuring enhanced accuracy in results.
• Offers longitudinal data: This method reveals a pattern of drug use over time, extending beyond just current usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become noticeable within hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier compared to other testing techniques.
• Inconsistencies in results: Variables like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the amount of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", this examination assesses the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Dixon, NC demonstrates its superiority over traditional urine tests with its robust detection capabilities and remarkable reliability. Hair testing can identify drug use over an extended period, offering a more comprehensive analysis and reducing the chances of tampering—an advantage urine tests struggle to match.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Dixon, NC is celebrated for its long detection timeline, assessing up to 90 days of drug use. This extended analysis period provides employers with a detailed insight into the substance history of employees or potential hires, aiding in more informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Dixon, NC benefits from employing hair follicle tests due to their tamper-resistant nature. This testing method minimizes risks of sample adulteration, ensuring trustworthy results that hold up under scrutiny, unlike some other drug testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide network, including local centers in Dixon, NC, ensures our drug testing services are easily accessible. The convenience of having numerous testing sites offers customers swift and hassle-free service, ensuring immediate attention to their testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Dixon, NC, our drug testing process is designed to be straightforward and confidential. Order, test, and receive results with ease, all while maintaining privacy. This seamless procedure addresses both efficiency and user confidentiality concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing models and rapid response times in Dixon, NC boast excellent value for businesses of every size. Quick turnarounds and cost-effective pricing underscore our commitment to delivering quality service without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Dixon, NC, hair follicle drug tests shine with their unparalleled accuracy and prompt results. Their speed and precision in identifying substance use position them as leaders in drug testing. Hair testing is highly esteemed for its reliable results, quickly becoming the choice method for discerning employers.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Dixon, NC, using hair follicle testing fosters compliance with drug-free workplace policies and diminishes legal liabilities. This approach enhances workplace security by limiting illicit substance presence, ensuring organizational safety and operational integrity.

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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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