Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Faith, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands provide an extended timeline of drug and alcohol use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug use within approximately a 90-day window. Hair is easy to obtain, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

Collecting a 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp produces 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample size for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or assessments beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the hair. If head hair is not available, the equivalent in body hair may be used. When speaking of head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The key phases in the lab procedure to produce a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves bringing a specimen into the lab’s system initially. It requires confirming the sample's proper sealing and transportation, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional required data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preparatory check for drugs. Although cost-effective for eliminating the presence of drugs in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for courtroom validation. Any samples showing a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate an additional confirmation step.

Should a sample yield a presumptive positive in Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. During this stage, drugs are withdrawn from the hair at notably lower concentrations than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the more challenging methodologies to execute.

Confirmation for positive screening results is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed accordingly. The entire procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is subject to review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests monitor drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection period.
• Resistance to tampering: Hair drug tests are hard to cheat, thus providing more accurate outcomes.
• Historical usage data: These tests can display a pattern of drug use across time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Delayed detection: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair drug testing generally costs more than other drug testing methods.
• Concentration differences: Variations such as hair color and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests," these analyses are performed on hair strands rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Faith, NC, hair testing surpasses traditional urine tests with its superior detection accuracy.

The reliability of hair follicle screens offers a dependable alternative to standard methods, eliminating common discrepancies found in urine testing.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Faith, NC reveals substance use over an extended period, reaching up to 90 days back.

This capability gives a holistic view of an individual's drug usage, crucial for employers aiming for thorough evaluations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Faith, NC's hair testing significantly curbs the risk of tampered samples.

The method's built-in resistance to adulteration provides trusted and unquestionable outcomes for accurate assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible nationwide centers, including those in Faith, NC, offer swift, straightforward, and stress-free testing services.

The wide-reaching availability ensures you have convenient options for fulfilling drug test requirements.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering, taking, and receiving results from hair tests in Faith, NC, remains both simple and confidential.

Attention to privacy and user-friendliness makes this method appealing to many.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Faith, NC benefits from competitive hair testing prices and rapid turnaround, delivering excellent value.

These factors afford peace of mind to companies regardless of size or industry focus.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle tests in Faith, NC offer fast and precise evaluations, distinguishing themselves with their unparalleled accuracy in identifying substance use.

Efficiency and dependability characterize hair testing, ensuring prompt and reliable reports that organizations can trust.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Faith, NC gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing's compliance with drug-free policies.

By mitigating legal risks and enhancing workplace safety, these tests ensure better adherence to company standards.

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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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