Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Morrisville, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged history of alcohol and substance markers by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. A sample taken near the scalp offers a detection window of up to approximately three months for alcohol and drugs. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A specimen of 1.5 inches with roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's diameter) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimum amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent amount of hair from the body can be collected. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal stages in laboratory analysis for a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. This step ensures that the sample was adequately sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary verification for substance misuse. Though Screening serves as a cost-effective approach to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive result needs validation to be court-admissible. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample is deemed presumptively positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen for Extraction. Here, substances are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), underpinning the complexity of hair drug screening.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation by using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples undergo necessary washing prior to confirmation. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for a period of up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which offer a shorter span.
• Low cheating likelihood: Cheating in a hair drug test is quite challenging, ensuring greater accuracy in results.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal a pattern of drug usage over time, not limited to recent activities.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Detecting drugs in hair typically takes about 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than alternative drug testing strategies.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth rates can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Morrisville, NC
Hair testing provides a notable edge over urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, which only capture recent use, hair tests reveal longer-term drug histories, offering a more thorough assessment.

Employers and entities in Morrisville can benefit from these tests, reducing the chance of overlooking long-term use and ensuring a more accurate view of an individual's substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Morrisville, NC
Hair follicle testing allows detection of drug use over a span of up to 90 days. This extended window provides employers in Morrisville a more comprehensive overview of an individual's substance history, crucial for informed decision-making.

Unlike shorter-term tests, hair testing details sustained substance use, offering a full-spectrum analysis invaluable for screening processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Morrisville, NC
Hair follicle tests significantly diminish the risks of sample tampering, ensuring reliable results. Their non-invasive nature and observed collection process bolster integrity and trustworthiness.

For organizations in Morrisville, this tamper-resistant approach is key in maintaining validity and reducing manipulation attempts during testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Morrisville, NC
Our widespread testing centers offer unmatched convenience, enabling swift and stress-free access to services. Morrisville residents can avail these facilities, ensuring prompt testing without hassle.

With accredited centers nationwide, accessibility is guaranteed wherever your testing needs arise, streamlining the process for individuals and businesses.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Morrisville, NC
The streamlined process for ordering, performing, and receiving results prioritizes user ease and privacy. Concerns about confidentiality are addressed, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

Morrisville residents benefit from a discrete and straightforward procedure, aligning convenience with the highest standards of privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Morrisville, NC
Competitive pricing paired with rapid turnaround times makes hair follicle testing an economical choice. Organizations of all sizes in Morrisville can trust in excellent value services.

Timely delivery of results without high costs provides peace of mind, making testing accessible and budget-friendly for everyone involved.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Morrisville, NC
Hair follicle drug tests offer swift and precise detection of substance use. With high accuracy rates, these tests ensure that results are both fast and trustworthy, providing Morrisville residents with dependable assessments.

The precision of hair testing surpasses traditional methods, making it a preferred option for those requiring fast and accurate insights into substance use or abuse.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Morrisville, NC
Implementing hair follicle testing aids Morrisville employers in adhering to drug-free workplace policies. It mitigates legal risks and enhances workplace safety, delivering assured compliance and security.

By incorporating these tests, companies ensure rigorous standards are met, fostering an environment of trust and lawfulness.

Drug Testing Near Morrisville, NC

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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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