Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lumber Bridge, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term usage history through biomarkers trapped within the strands of hair as it grows. Collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to 3 months for alcohol and other substances. It is easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of around 200 hair strands (similar to a #2 pencil in width) next to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimum quantity for initial testing and affirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advised. A jeweler’s scale is suggested for weighing the hair sample. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When referencing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes other types such as facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The primary steps in a drug test result's laboratory processing include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first step, where the sample is introduced into the laboratory’s system. This process ensures the sample is intact and properly sent, attaches a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes necessary data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody.

Screening performs an initial check for drug substances. This step is cost-efficient and helps rule out drugs in most samples. However, a positive screen must be verified to be valid in legal settings. Hence, samples that screen positive require additional confirmation.

If Screening results are positive, more specimens are collected from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. Drugs during this phase are extracted from hair in much smaller concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine, oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging technique to manage.

Confirmation of positive screenings uses methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Such samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation requirements.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug ingestion for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests that have shorter windows of detection.
• Hard to manipulate: It's challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: It can show a drug usage trend over time, beyond recent use.

Limitations:

• No recent detection: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests often cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", they actually test the hair strand, not the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Lumber Bridge, NC, hair follicle testing showcases clear advantages over urine testing. With extended detection capabilities, it captures a history of drug use far exceeding that of urine tests.
This method not only enhances accuracy but also offers a broader detection window, making it indispensable for many employers and organizations.

The precision and breadth of hair testing make it a preferred choice. Unlike traditional urine tests which have a limited detection timeframe, hair follicle tests provide a comprehensive look at an individual's substance use history for up to 90 days. This elevated level of accuracy and reliability makes hair testing a valuable asset in maintaining a safe and productive environment.

Extended Detection Window

The ability to look back up to 90 days makes hair follicle testing a powerful tool in Lumber Bridge, NC. This extended detection window provides employers with a comprehensive view of an individual's drug history, surpassing the limited scope of shorter-period tests.
This range ensures thorough screening, aiding in making informed decisions.

Employers gain peace of mind knowing the depth of their candidate’s or employee’s substance use, thanks to the extended detection period. Unlike short-term testing methods, hair follicle testing offers valuable insights, enabling long-term planning and evaluation of drug-free workplace initiatives, keeping organizations informed and proactive in their policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Lumber Bridge, NC, hair follicle testing is resilient against adulteration threats, providing tamper-resistant drug test results. Its robust nature ensures reliability, minimizing the chances of sample manipulation.
The observed collection process further strengthens its integrity, delivering trustworthy outcomes that withstand scrutiny.

Employers can confidently rely on the security of hair follicle tests, knowing the risk of tampering is significantly minimized. The process is designed to prevent interference, ensuring that the results are as accurate as intended. This resistance to adulteration positions hair testing as a reliable choice for maintaining stringent drug-free workplace policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures accessible testing with its nationwide centers and local facilities in Lumber Bridge, NC. This extensive network guarantees convenience and ease of access for all.
Clients benefit from hassle-free and quick access to our services, making the process seamless and efficient.

In Lumber Bridge and beyond, our network of conveniently located facilities underscores the commitment to providing accessible and efficient service. The widespread availability of testing centers ensures prompt service without the stress of long-distance travel, allowing customers to meet their testing needs swiftly and effectively.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Lumber Bridge, NC, Accredited Drug Testing simplifies the process from ordering to results, emphasizing both privacy and ease of use.
Our discreet service guarantees a seamless experience that respects client confidentiality, ensuring peace of mind throughout the testing process.

The straightforward nature of our service in Lumber Bridge reflects a commitment to making drug testing stress-free. From ordering to obtaining results, the process is designed to be user-friendly and confidential, addressing any concerns about privacy and convenience while maintaining high-quality service at all times.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and rapid turnaround in Lumber Bridge, NC, providing excellent value to companies of all sizes.
Our efficient service, coupled with affordability, ensures peace of mind while balancing cost and quality effectively, making it a preferred choice for numerous organizations.

Balancing cost-effectiveness with rapid results, our pricing structure ensures that businesses, regardless of size, can access high-quality drug testing services. In Lumber Bridge, our focus on affordability does not compromise delivery speed or accuracy, providing organizations with reliable and cost-effective solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The rapid and precise nature of hair follicle drug testing is a standout feature in Lumber Bridge, NC. Speed and accuracy are hallmarks, detecting substance use with a high degree of certainty.
Endorsed by many professionals, it ensures swift results without compromising on reliability, making it an essential tool for those seeking accurate drug assessments.
With efficient processing, results are both quick and dependable.

Employers and professionals alike benefit from the quick turnaround time. Hair follicle drug testing ensures that decisions can be made promptly with trusted results. Whether testing for employment, legal cases, or treatment purposes, the speed of hair follicle assessments in Lumber Bridge stands unmatched, assuring stakeholders of their superior reliability in substance use detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Lumber Bridge, NC, hair follicle testing safeguards compliance with drug-free policies, ensuring both legal conformity and enhanced workplace safety.
By adopting this testing method, businesses actively reduce legal risks while demonstrating a commitment to a safe and substance-free environment, thus ensuring peace of mind.

Hair follicle testing aligns with robust workplace policies, ensuring that organizations meet regulatory standards and foster secure environments. Employers can trust that this accurate form of testing supports their commitment to a drug-free workplace, bolstering compliance while providing security and reassurance to all stakeholders.

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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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