Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Midway, NC

What it is, How it works

Recognized as a formidable instrument, hair testing effectively identifies drug and alcohol consumption. The hair strands capture biomarkers within the fibers, offering an extended timeline of alcohol and drug usage. When cut near the scalp, hair testing provides a detection range extending up to around three months for alcohol and drug use. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample size of 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 hair strands (roughly the girth of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp, equates to 100mg—the optimal quantity for assessments and confirmations. For EtG, supplementary tests, or evaluations exceeding ten panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. It's recommended to gauge the sample with a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a corresponding amount of body hair may be gathered. References to head hair specifically denote scalp hair; body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary phases in laboratory drug test processing: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the preliminary integration of a sample within the lab system. It entails ensuring proper sealing and shipment of the sample, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in supplementary data not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening comprises an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective means of eliminating drug use suspicions across most samples, positive screenings necessitate confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples that show presumptive positivity in Screening mandate a secondary validation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction process. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence why hair drug screening is the most intricate methodology to implement.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, receives appraisal under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation alongside accreditation adhering to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Protracted detection span: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage extending up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a narrower detection range.
• Challenge to deceive: Manipulating a hair drug test is notably challenging, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Supplies historical insights: It unveils a pattern of drug consumption over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapacity to detect recent use: It takes approximately 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug screening methods.
• Result fluctuations: Elements such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While termed "hair follicle tests", the examination is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Midway, NC, hair follicle testing possesses significant advantages over traditional urine tests. Superior detection accuracy and a longer history of substance use are key benefits, offering a comprehensive review period of up to 90 days compared to urine testing's shorter window. Hair tests are nearly impossible to tamper with, enhancing their credibility and usefulness in critical situations.

Extended Detection Window

By opting for hair follicle testing in Midway, NC, employers gain access to an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This method provides a detailed overview of substance usage over time, enabling a thorough understanding of an individual's history. Such insights empower employers to make informed decisions about hiring and maintaining a safe and productive work environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Midway, NC, offer a tamper-resistant testing method that reduces the risk of sample adulteration. Unlike other methods, manipulating hair samples is extremely challenging, guaranteeing reliable and irrefutable results. This resilience against tampering makes it an ideal choice for rigorous testing requirements for both employers and legal bodies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Ensuring convenience and accessibility, Accredited Drug Testing provides nationwide testing locations, including local centers in Midway, NC. Quick and hassle-free access to our services helps ensure a smooth experience for all clients, supporting needs with prompt and agile responses to testing requests, regardless of the geographical location.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Midway, NC, our process for ordering, administering and receiving hair follicle test results is simple and confidential. The comprehensive approach ensures privacy while maintaining ease of use, with a streamlined path from test order to results delivery, offering peace of mind for individuals seeking privacy along with accuracy in their testing needs.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Midway, NC, offers affordable pricing structures paired with fast result turnaround times. Our competitive rates promise excellent value, reassuring businesses with limited budgets without sacrificing quality. We prioritize delivering findings on a timely basis, enhancing the benefit for companies of every size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Experience swift and precise results with hair follicle drug testing in Midway, NC. Hair follicle tests are renowned for their accuracy and reliability, providing fast insights into substance use. This method identifies trace amounts of drugs efficiently, ensuring that you receive dependable results rapidly, which supports informed decision-making with minimized waiting periods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Midway, NC, achieve compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. By adhering to drug-free workplace policies, they not only minimize legal liabilities but also foster a safe and productive work culture. This compliance assures both employees and employers, creating a harmonious working environment and reducing risk factors linked with substance abuse.

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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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