Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mill Spring, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When collected at the scalp, hair can offer roughly a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. It's easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample containing approximately 200 hair strands (around the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp produces 100mg, the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests over 10 panels, 150mg is advised. We suggest weighing the hair on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be substituted. When referring to head hair, it means exclusively scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses other types like facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The key procedures in lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning handles the initial sample processing into a laboratory database. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and delivered, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entries absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although this step is cost-effective for eliminating drug presence in most samples, any positive results require confirmation to hold up legally. Samples with a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate a second confirmation.

When a sample shows presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for further Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening particularly challenging to perform.

Confirming positive screenings involves GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Prior to confirmation, positive samples undergo necessary washing. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Sustained detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that span shorter durations.
• Difficulty in evading results: Cheating on a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring greater accuracy.
• Provides historical usage data: It offers a timeline of drug use, rather than just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent usage: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Cost factor: Generally, hair drug tests are more costly compared to other methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers a distinct advantage over urine tests in Mill Spring, NC. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair follicle tests bring a longer detection window and greater accuracy, providing a more reliable assessment of drug use history.

Benefits include a superior detection period, less prone to tampering, and better reliability. Companies and institutions benefit from this enhanced method as it captures a comprehensive view of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Mill Spring, NC, allows for substance use analysis over the past 90 days. This advantage provides employers a detailed history of an individual's drug use, unlike other methods that offer shorter timelines.

Employers gain substantial insight into an applicant's lifestyle, aiding them in making well-informed hiring decisions. This capability significantly improves workplace safety and compliance.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests offer remarkable resistance to tampering, ensuring trustworthy results in Mill Spring, NC. Unlike other methods that might be susceptible to sample adulteration, hair tests uphold their integrity.

A tamper-resistant approach gives employers and authorities confidence in the accuracy of the test outcomes, minimizing doubts and reinforcing trust in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is paramount with our nationwide testing centers, including local options in Mill Spring, NC. The accessibility ensures quick and hassle-free drug testing services for everyone.

Our locations guarantee ease of access so that individuals and companies alike can manage their testing needs efficiently. Wherever you are, quality testing is within reach.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Mill Spring, NC, Accredited Drug Testing offers a straightforward and confidential drug testing process. We prioritize privacy at every stage, from ordering the test to receiving the results.

Simple procedures ensure ease of use for all clients, addressing any privacy concerns and making the testing experience stress-free and secure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing is committed to providing cost-effective solutions with prompt turnaround times in Mill Spring, NC. Our competitive pricing and fast results offer excellent value to businesses of all sizes.

Affordable rates without compromising on speed and precision make our services a preferred choice for companies seeking dependable drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Mill Spring, NC, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their speed and precision. Their advanced technology ensures highly accurate detection of substances, surpassing conventional methods. Hair tests provide swift results, aiding decision-makers promptly.

Fast and precise detection through hair follicle tests is undeniable, offering users dependable data. Their efficiency in identifying substance usage rapidly makes these tests invaluable for employers and authorities.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For businesses in Mill Spring, NC, hair follicle testing facilitates compliance with drug-free policies, promoting a safer work environment. By choosing this method, employers reduce legal risks associated with workplace substance use.

Ensuring peace of mind for employers through consistent and accurate testing results helps maintain a drug-free workplace, vital for productivity and safety.

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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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