Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lansing, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands give a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug intake by capturing markers within the hair's fiber architecture. Acquiring hair close to the scalp can offer a detection span of roughly three months for substances such as alcohol and other drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to ship.

A segment of hair measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield approximately 100mg of hair, the optimal sample amount for both screening and validation. To screen for EtG, additional parameters, and/or tests surpassing 10 panels, 150mg is suggested. It is advised to measure the hair using a precision scale, like those used by jewelers. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair may serve as a substitute. When discussing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, auxiliary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test involves four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary stage where a sample is integrated into the lab's system. This step ensures that the sample is securely sealed and appropriately shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data input not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary examination for traces of abused substances. While Screening is a budget-friendly method for excluding drug use in most cases, any positive result in Screening must be confirmed for legal acceptance. Samples that yield presumptive positive results in Screening require further confirmation testing.

If a sample tests presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is drawn from the original sample for Extraction. This phase involves retrieving drugs from hair at significantly lower levels compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing the most intricate testing method.

Confirmation of positively screened samples is executed utilizing GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. All samples that test presumptive positive undergo washing before confirmation if warranted. The full lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation requirements.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, thereby improving result precision.
• Chronological usage pattern: These tests offer an insight into drug consumption trends over time, not merely current use.

Constraints:

• Delay in detecting recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for substances to register in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally costlier than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair pigmentation and personal hair growth differences can affect the drug metabolites' presence in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis involves the hair shaft rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Lansing, NC, hair follicle testing proves superior to urine tests by providing impressive detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, which disrupt drugs for a limited time, hair tests detect drug use over a much longer period, presenting a clearer picture.

Employing hair testing over traditional methods ensures employers receive consistent, reliable data. The contaminant-free collection process heightens the result's reliability, unlike urine tests, susceptible to sample tampering.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Lansing, NC, spans up to 90 days. This provides employers insight into an individual's substance use history, offering a comprehensive overview rather than a snapshot.

With hair tests, companies gain extensive information about applicants' histories. Compared to the limited reach of other tests, this 90-day window ensures no crucial data about past substance use is overlooked.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-resistant methods in hair follicle testing drastically reduce risks of sample adulteration in Lansing, NC, delivering unquestionable results. Hair samples, unlike urine, can't be substituted or altered easily, preserving test integrity.

Offering a robust solution against sample manipulation, hair follicle tests ensure more reliable results. This makes it easier for employers to maintain a drug-free workplace without worrying about falsified test results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations extend across Lansing, NC, and Nationwide, offering ease of access to drug testing services. Accredited Drug Testing ensures quick and hassle-free testing experiences, blending convenience with reliability.

Lansing residents gain effortless access to testing centers, alongside a network of national locations, creating an ideal scenario for businesses needing widespread testing availability.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple and confidential process of hair follicle testing in Lansing, NC, puts individuals at ease. From ordering, taking the test, to receiving results, the entire procedure remains discreet, prioritizing privacy at every step.

Emphasizing confidentiality, every detail in the testing process caters to comfort and privacy, allowing individuals and businesses peace of mind while maintaining essential discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing combined with fast turnaround times in Lansing, NC, ensure excellent value. Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive rates, making quality testing accessible for companies of varying sizes.

Highlighting cost-effectiveness without compromising quality, the pricing structures provide ideal solutions for businesses aiming for both economic and reliable testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Precise Results in Lansing, NC, make hair follicle drug tests a preferred choice. These tests deliver quick results while maintaining exceptional accuracy in substance detection. This efficiency allows for timely decision-making and reliability, ensuring a high standard of testing.

With hair testing, precision in identifying substance use is unparalleled. The speed of obtaining results without compromising accuracy offers an edge, proving the test's reliability in various scenarios.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for employers in Lansing, NC, heighten with hair follicle testing. This method promotes adherence to workplace drug-free policies, minimizing legal risks and enhancing overall safety.

Relying on hair testing means employers benefit from streamlined compliance, ensuring workplace policies are met. This added assurance lets companies focus on growth, knowing the testing aligns with their safety standards.

Drug Testing Near Lansing, NC

Mount Gilead, NC

Foscoe, NC

Blowing Rock, NC

Millers Creek, NC

Valle Crucis, NC

Sugar Grove, NC

Cove Creek, NC

Boone, NC

McGrady, NC

Deep Gap, NC

Laxon, NC

Glendale Springs, NC

West Jefferson, NC

Jefferson, NC

Warrensville, NC

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews