Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Moncure, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair assessment has become recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands of emerging hair. When obtained near the scalp, hair can present a detection timeline of up to about 3 months for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tough to tamper, and simple to transport.

A specimen of 1.5 inches from around 200 hairs (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp renders 100mg of hair, an optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. It is suggested to weigh the hair using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not viable, a similar quantity of body hair can be obtained. Head hair specifies only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The process of obtaining a drug test result from the lab involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial entry of a sample into the lab's system. This step includes ensuring the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data input not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening represents a preliminary rapid check for drugs of abuse. Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in the majority of cases, but a positive screen must be affirmed to be acceptable in legal settings. Any samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening require a subsequent confirmation.

For samples that show presumptive positivity during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. At this juncture, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations far lower than alternative techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), illustrating why hair drug screening is notably challenging.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are used for confirming any positive screening results. All samples with presumptive positivity are cleaned prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory workflow, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is subjected to scrutiny under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can expose drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with limited detection periods.
• Cheating difficulty: Manipulating a hair drug test is quite challenging, leading to more precise results.
• Historical data provision: Helps in revealing a pattern of drug consumption over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: Approximately 5-7 days are needed for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests," the analysis evaluates the hair strand rather than the scalp follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle tests with traditional urine tests in Moncure, NC, the benefits become clear. Hair tests provide superior accuracy and reliability in substance detection. While urine tests may detect recent drug use, hair tests offer a broader detection window for a more comprehensive view.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Moncure, NC benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle tests, which can reveal drug use history up to 90 days prior. This method offers a longer surveillance period, enabling a thorough assessment of an individual's substance use behavior and lifestyle choices.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Moncure, NC significantly reduces the likelihood of sample tampering. As a method resistant to adulteration, it ensures that results are authentic and trustworthy, providing uncompromised evidence of any substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of access to testing facilities in Moncure, NC is a key benefit offered through our nationwide network. Whether locally or across the country, our numerous centers provide easy and hassle-free testing services with quick access and professional oversight.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing process in Moncure, NC is straightforward and maintains strict confidentiality. From ordering to receiving results, our streamlined approach caters to privacy concerns, ensuring ease of use and safeguarding personal information throughout the procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

We offer competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times for hair follicle testing in Moncure, NC. Our affordable solutions mean that companies of all sizes can benefit from excellent value without compromising on the speed or accuracy of test results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and reliability of hair follicle drug tests in Moncure, NC, are unmatched. These tests offer quick and accurate results that help in detecting substance use efficiently. The detailed analysis provided ensures a higher level of certainty in identifying any usage of prohibited substances over time.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Moncure, NC, ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies is critical for employers. Hair follicle testing not only supports these efforts but also mitigates legal risks. It contributes to a safer workplace environment, offering peace of mind to employers and employees alike.

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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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