Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Laboratory, NC

What it is, How it works

The technique of hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for monitoring drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a chronological record of alcohol and drug intake, encapsulating markers within the structures of the hair as it develops. Sampling hair near the scalp can offer a detection timeframe extending up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.

A sample size measuring 1.5 inches from around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) near the scalp provides about 100mg of hair for optimal testing and validation. For tests like EtG, expanded panels, or beyond 10-panel screens, 150mg of hair is suggested. It is advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't present, an equivalent volume of body hair can be used. When referencing head hair, it pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other types of hair (such as facial or axillary).

Process Overview

The drug testing procedure within laboratories involves four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary step of incorporating a sample into a lab's systems. It involves confirming the sample's secure sealing and transport, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data input absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary evaluation for the presence of drugs. While Screening is a low-cost approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen mandates verification to be legally acceptable. Screens that are likely positive must undergo further confirmation.

Should a sample likely show positive in Screening, extra hair from the initial sample is prepared for Extraction. During this phase, the process focuses on removing drugs from hair at concentrations significantly lower than other methods (e.g., urine or saliva). This characteristic makes hair drug testing a challenging procedure.

Verification of positive results occurs through methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every likely positive sample undergoes washing as part of the validation process. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under the scrutiny of the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and certified to ISO / IEC 17025.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can recognize drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is arduous, enhancing the authenticity of the results.
• Archives usage history: It can reflect drug use patterns over time instead of just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to appear in hair samples.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite the common term "hair follicle tests", the evaluation targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Laboratory, NC, hair follicle testing is a superior choice over urine testing. It enhances detection accuracy and reliability, identifying drug use patterns more effectively than conventional urine tests, ensuring stricter compliance with substance use policies.

Extended Detection Window

One key feature of hair follicle testing in Laboratory, NC is its extended detection window. Drugs can be traced up to 90 days, offering employers a detailed account of an employee or candidate's substance use history, which traditional methods lack.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Laboratory, NC offer a tamper-resistant approach to drug testing. The testing procedure significantly minimizes the possibility of sample falsification, guaranteeing trustworthy outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing operations in Laboratory, NC benefit from accessible nationwide locations, ensuring efficient and straightforward testing services. This widespread availability enables convenient scheduling and ease of access, reducing the stress of logistical concerns.

Simple, Confidential Process

Located in Laboratory, NC, our testing process is straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy concerns head-on. We simplify ordering, administering, and delivering results, providing a user-friendly experience from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive rates and quick turnaround times in Laboratory, NC, our drug testing services deliver outstanding value. This affordability, combined with fast processing, benefits businesses of all sizes seeking effective substance testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Laboratory, NC provide exceptional precision and rapid results. The accuracy of these tests ensures a reliable means of detecting substance use, surpassing traditional methods with efficiency and detailed reporting.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Laboratory, NC find peace of mind by using hair follicle testing to comply with drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal concerns and promotes a safer working environment, aligning with compliance needs effectively.

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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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