Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Haywood, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly viewed as an effective means for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers in the hair shaft’s fibers. When taken from a spot close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively tough to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A section measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimum amount for evaluation and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair only, while body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test result processing in a lab involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the initial intake of a sample into the lab's system. It involves checking that the sample was securely sealed and properly sent, assigning a randomized LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and doing any extra data input not supplied by an online chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary swift check for illicit drugs. Despite Screening being a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen needs confirmation to be valid in court. Samples that show presumptive positive results in Screening need a secondary verification.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive during Screening, more hair is selected from the initial sample for Extraction. During this phase, substances are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other processes (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis a challenging method to execute.

Verification of any positive screening result is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo a wash before confirmation as necessary. The end-to-end laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated according to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and conforms to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection timeframe: Hair drug analysis can detect substance use up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests that offer a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to evade: It is notably challenging to compromise hair drug tests, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insights: It can illustrate a pattern of substance usage over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: It generally takes 5-7 days for substances to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth differences may impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is done on the hair strand, not the follicle underneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Haywood, NC
Hair testing supersedes traditional urine tests with its superior detection reliability. While urine tests cover brief periods, hair tests offer extended detection up to 90 days, proving more beneficial for comprehensive drug history assessments.

Employers in Haywood, NC favor hair tests for their zero-tolerance policies due to their harder-to-deceive nature. This choice strengthens workplace safety by ensuring more accurate substance use detection compared to urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Haywood, NC
The hair follicle drug test's extended detection window provides up to 90 days of drug use history, offering employers in Haywood, NC a detailed view of an individual’s substance habits.

This extensive tracking period enhances pre-employment and regular screening processes, empowering businesses to make well-informed decisions based on thorough assessments of substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Haywood, NC
Hair follicle testing minimizes the risk of sample adulteration. This method, widely used in Haywood, NC, guarantees reliable results, eliminating doubts about the integrity of the test outcomes.

The robust and secure nature of hair tests deters manipulation, providing confidence to entities requiring authentic and indisputable screening results for stringent drug-free environments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Haywood, NC
Access to testing centers nationwide, including Haywood, NC, makes the process of obtaining hair follicle tests straightforward and quick.

The availability of local facilities caters to the needs of individuals and businesses, ensuring a smooth and efficient testing experience without unnecessary travel hassle.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Haywood, NC
The hair follicle testing procedure is designed to be straightforward and private, easing concerns about privacy while maintaining ease of access.

In Haywood, NC, the emphasis is on confidentiality throughout ordering, testing, and results handling, providing peace of mind for all users seeking secure and unobtrusive testing solutions.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Haywood, NC
Competitive rates and swift service delivery set our hair follicle drug testing apart, offering exceptional value for businesses across Haywood, NC.

Quick turnaround times mean businesses of all sizes can benefit from fast, reliable results without straining budgets, ensuring both economic efficiency and confidence in the drug-free status of employees.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Haywood, NC
Hair follicle drug screening guarantees precise and expedient outcomes. The test's accuracy in identifying substance use stands out, making it a favored choice for ensuring trustworthy results.

The rapidity and dependability of hair follicle testing come from its comprehensive substance detection capabilities, offering clear insights into an individual's drug use history. Haywood, NC's testing centers provide efficient services for confident decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Haywood, NC
Employers choosing hair follicle testing ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies, significantly lowering legal liabilities and enhancing workplace security.

Haywood, NC companies gain assurance knowing their drug-testing practices align with regulations, fostering a safer and more compliant work setting through reliable substance detection methods.

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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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