Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Evergreen, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a record of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When sampled near the scalp, hair can indicate drug and alcohol presence over an approximate 3-month duration. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section comprising roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in width to a #2 pencil) cut near the scalp will result in 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for testing. For EtG, additional tests, or panels beyond 10, 150mg of hair is suggested. It’s advisable to weigh the hair sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be acquired, an equal volume of body hair may be obtained. "Head hair" specifically pertains to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other categories of hair (such as facial and axillary).

Process Overview

There are four primary steps in the lab analysis of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s database. This step involves confirming the sample was properly sealed and shipped, attaching a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and entering any necessary additional data not captured by an electronic chain of custody procedure.

Screening performs an initial rapid assessment for illicit drugs. While Screening is an efficient approach for excluding drug usage in most samples, a positive result must be verified for legal admissibility. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

If a sample is presumptive positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial collection for the Extraction process. During Extraction, drugs are separated from the hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), justifying why hair drug analysis is the most challenging procedure to execute.

Positive results from the initial screening are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples get washed before confirmation as needed. The complete lab procedures ranging from Accessioning to Confirmation are subject to review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug analyses can reveal drug consumption up to 90 days, whereas urine analyses have a more limited detection span.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing the precision of the results.
• Offers historical insight: It can show a timeline of drug consumption over weeks or months, rather than only indicating recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs become traceable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug evaluations generally cost more than other testing procedures.
• Result variability: Individual differences in hair color and growth can influence the presence of drug metabolites in hair analyses.

Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair shaft, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Evergreen, NC, stands superior to urine testing due to its profound accuracy and comprehensive detection capabilities. Unlike urine tests, hair tests provide a broader window, unveiling drug use patterns over several months rather than days.

The excellence of hair testing lies in its reliability; where urine tests might miss chronic patterns, hair analysis offers conclusive insights. This ensures employers make informed decisions, fostering a drug-free environment.

Extended Detection Window

In Evergreen, NC, hair follicle testing offers a unique advantage with its extensive detection window, capturing drug use up to 90 days prior. This feature empowers employers with a detailed view of an individual's substance history, offering more than just recent habits.

Hair testing provides in-depth analysis to accurately reflect past behaviors, ensuring transparency for employers aiming to maintain a safe and secure workplace environment in Evergreen, NC.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Ensuring integrity in results, hair follicle tests in Evergreen, NC, are designed to be tamper-resistant. These tests reduce the risk of sample manipulation, unlike other methods, delivering dependable outcomes employers can trust.

Hair samples, collected under strict protocols, offer an extra layer of security, diminishing apprehensions regarding contamination and falsification. This testing method guarantees credible data, critical for making informed employment decisions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers seamless access to hair follicle testing through nationwide centers, including locations in Evergreen, NC. Our extensive network ensures that drug testing services are both quick and accessible to everyone in need.

Testing locally in Evergreen, NC, means no hassle or inconvenience, offering a simple and straightforward process for effective and timely drug assessments, backed by our reliable network.

Simple, Confidential Process

At Accredited Drug Testing in Evergreen, NC, we prioritize a straightforward and confidential process. From ordering to receiving results, we ensure privacy and simplicity, alleviating concerns over the testing process.

This streamlined approach to hair follicle testing ensures clients experience ease and confidentiality, fostering trust and satisfaction throughout every step of the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Evergreen, NC, our hair follicle testing services feature competitive pricing tailored to suit businesses of all sizes. With fast turnaround times, we offer value and reassurance to companies seeking to maintain safety standards.

By providing affordable options along with swift results, our services ensure that businesses in Evergreen benefit from efficiency and cost-effectiveness, promoting peace of mind without compromising quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

For those in Evergreen, NC, hair follicle drug tests deliver fast and precise results, unmatched in their ability to detect substance use. Known for their high accuracy and quick turnaround, these tests provide reliable outcomes for both employers and individuals, setting them apart from other testing methods.

Hair follicle testing offers an efficient solution to understanding substance use, ensuring results that are both accurate and rapid. In Evergreen, NC, our testing services provide clarity and dependability, helping maintain integrity in drug testing practices.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Evergreen, NC, ensures compliance with workplace drug-free mandates, protecting organizations from potential legal challenges. This testing method strengthens workplace safety, providing peace of mind for employers.

By aligning with drug-free policies through reliable hair testing, companies in Evergreen can foster a secure work environment, reducing legal risks and cultivating a culture of trust and safety.

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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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