Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Edneyville, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and narcotics through the capture of biomarkers in the strands' fibers as they grow. Obtaining hair near the scalp can reveal up to roughly a 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to mail.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, equivalent to around 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil), close to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, or tests over 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. It's best to use a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair isn't present, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. In speaking of head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in lab processing of a drug test include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning denotes the initial handling of a sample within a lab's system. This step ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts a brisk evaluation for drugs of abuse. As a cost-effective strategy, Screening helps negate drug usage on most samples, yet a positive screen necessitates confirmation to hold in court. Samples potentially positive in Screening require additional verification.

Should a sample indicate a tentative positive in Screening, further hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction. In this phase, drug extractions from hair occur at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening as the most challenging procedure to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive specimens are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation undergoes examination under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and accreditation per ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeline: Hair drug assessments can disclose drug use spanning up to 90 days, contrary to urine tests which have a briefer detection period.
• Cheating resistance: Hair drug tests are exceedingly tough to cheat, enhancing result accuracy.
• Narrative data: They offer a continuous timeline of drug usage over time, instead of simply recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: There's a lag of roughly 5-7 days before drugs manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically surpass other drug testing methods cost-wise.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair hue and individual hair growth differences can influence the drug metabolite level present in hair.

Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Edneyville, NC
Hair follicle testing offers numerous benefits over traditional urine tests. With its ability to detect substance use over a longer period, it provides a greater insight into an individual's drug history. Moreover, the accuracy and reliability of hair testing surpass urine tests, ensuring comprehensive detection.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Edneyville, NC
The substantial detection window of hair follicle testing, up to 90 days, offers employers a thorough overview of an individual's substance use history. This extended period enables a clearer understanding of any long-term patterns, making it a preferred choice for drug testing.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Edneyville, NC
Hair follicle tests decrease the likelihood of sample tampering. Their design guarantees reliability and unquestionable results, providing both peace of mind and confidence in the testing outcome. This, in turn, enhances credibility and trust in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations in Edneyville, NC
With a network of nationwide testing centers, accessing testing services is seamless and hassle-free. Local facilities in Edneyville ensure that individuals can obtain quick and convenient testing without difficulty, contributing to an efficient process.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Edneyville, NC
Our hair follicle testing process emphasizes simplicity and privacy. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step is designed to be straightforward and confidential, ensuring ease and respect for your privacy concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Edneyville, NC
Offering competitive pricing and swift processing times, our hair testing services provide excellent value for businesses of any size. Customers can rely on our cost-effective and rapid solutions to address their testing needs efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Edneyville, NC
Our hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and speed, delivering highly accurate results. By detecting substance use effectively, these tests highlight our commitment to reliability. With hair follicle testing, you can be assured of detecting even minimal drug traces, making it a superior choice for meticulous results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Edneyville, NC
Implementing hair follicle testing empowers employers to uphold drug-free workplace policies. This compliance not only diminishes potential legal risks but also fosters a safer work environment, granting employers peace of mind.

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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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