Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Efland, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a comprehensive history of drugs and alcohol by capturing biomarkers in the hair's structure as it grows. When samples are taken near the scalp, they may reveal alcohol and drug usage over an approximately 90-day span. Hair is easy to gather, hard to falsify, and convenient for transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hairs (akin to the size of a #2 pencil) cut closest to the scalp yields 100mg, the perfect quantity for both initial and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additions, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is suggested. It's advisable to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If there's no scalp hair, an equivalent volume of body hair is acceptable. "Head hair" pertains to scalp hair only, whereas "body hair" includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four pivotal stages in laboratory drug test processing include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning marks the preliminary handling of a specimen within a lab's system. This phase ensures the sample is sealed and dispatched correctly, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishes any extra data input absent in an electronic chain of custody.

Screening encompasses an initial rapid examination for substance abuse. While it is an economical approach to exclude drug use for the majority of specimens, any positive results in Screening require confirmation for legal validity. Samples flagged as presumptively positive during Screening must undergo further confirmation.

For specimens found presumptively positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is drawn from the original sample for further preparation in the Extraction phase. At this juncture, drugs are derived from hair at significantly lower levels compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), contributing to hair drug screening's complexity.

Confirmation of any positive screen is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples marked as presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entirety of the lab process from Accessioning through to Confirmation is assessed in compliance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use extending up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests that have a narrower detection span.
• Resistance to manipulation: Hair drug tests are exceptionally hard to tamper with, thereby enhancing result reliability.
• Historical usage data: Capable of displaying a pattern of drug use over an extended period, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs require about 5-7 days post-use to become retrievable in hair.
• Expense: Generally pricier than alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Influences such as hair color and individual variability in hair growth can affect drug metabolite levels in hair strands.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests," the procedure itself examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The advantages of hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests in Efland, NC, are significant. Hair testing offers superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests capture recent use, hair tests reveal a history up to 90 days. Employers and legal bodies prefer hair testing, where accuracy and comprehensive substance detection count.
For infallible results, hair tests surpass traditional methods.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Efland, NC, benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle tests. This method tracks drug use over 90 days, offering a thorough perspective on a candidate's or employee's substance history.
With hair testing, discover a more complete drug history, empowering informed decisions regarding workplace safety and compliance.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Efland, NC, provides a tamper-resistant drug screening method. By significantly reducing the potential for sample adulteration, it delivers results that are both reliable and unquestionable.
For organizations demanding high integrity in their drug testing practices, choose hair tests to ensure the credibility of results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Enjoy convenient testing solutions with our nationwide and local Efland, NC testing centers. Our widespread network ensures quick and straightforward access to hair follicle tests, making the testing process hassle-free and efficient.
Accessing quality drug testing services has never been easier, with locations strategically placed for your benefit.

Simple, Confidential Process

Experience a straightforward and confidential process for hair follicle testing in Efland, NC. Our approach guarantees simplicity in ordering, taking, and receiving results, with privacy concerns fully addressed.
Rely on a system designed to accommodate your testing needs with ease, offering both confidentiality and usability.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing in Efland, NC, combines affordability with fast turnaround times. Thanks to competitive pricing, these tests provide excellent value for businesses of any size while ensuring quick, reliable insights.
Invest in cost-effective testing solutions that do not compromise on speed or accuracy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Efland, NC, hair follicle drug tests offer remarkable precision and speed. Recognized for their high accuracy, these tests reliably detect substance use, ensuring fast results that employers and institutions can depend on.
When rapid yet reliable testing is needed, hair tests stand out, verifying results with unmatched accuracy and efficiency.
Choose this test in Efland for fast, dependable, and precise drug screening results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Efland, NC, achieve compliance and peace of mind by utilizing hair follicle testing. This ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigates legal risks, and enhances workplace safety.
Hair testing stands as a safeguard, bolstering your organization’s commitment to a drug-free, secure 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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