Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Navassa, NC

What it is, How it works

The analysis of hair has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying substance and alcohol intake. Hair captures markers in its fibers, offering an extended history of alcohol and drugs. Obtaining hair near the scalp can reveal a detection period of up to 90 days for alcohol and substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section containing approximately 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, perfect for analysis. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Use a jeweler’s scale for precise measurement of the specimen's weight. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent volume of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically means scalp hair, while "Body hair" encompasses all other types (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test result processing involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial inclusion of a sample into a lab's system. This stage confirms proper sealing and delivery of the sample, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any absent data entry not included by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs a preliminary check for drug abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-effective solution to rule out drug presence in most cases, a positive result requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples that show a positive indication during Screening must undergo a subsequent verification.

Should a sample indicate a potential positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than methods like urine or oral fluid, underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening compared to other approaches.

For confirmation of any positive screening, technologies such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are employed. Presumptive positive samples are thoroughly cleaned before confirmation as warranted. The entire lab progression from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP Hair recognition and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests offer detection of drug use spanning up to 90 days, longer than the window provided by urine tests.
• Resistance to tampering: Tampering with hair drug tests is extremely challenging, allowing for more reliable results.
• Historical usage insight: It reveals patterns of drug consumption over time, rather than just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It generally takes 5-7 days before drugs become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Inconsistencies in outcomes: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences may impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Navassa, NC, hair follicle testing provides clear advantages over traditional urine tests. With superior detection accuracy and reliability, it ensures a more thorough analysis of substance use history.

Compared to urine tests, hair follicle analysis offers a higher detection period, making it favorable for comprehensive evaluations in substance use monitoring and prevention.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Navassa, NC offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This allows employers a complete overview of an individual's drug use history.

The prolonged detection period presents a holistic view, aiding employers in evaluating potential hires and current employees' substance use behaviors.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Navassa, NC, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing ensures the integrity of samples. This method greatly reduces the potential for adulteration, ensuring reliable results.

Hair follicle testing is a pivotal tool for securing accurate drug use records by minimizing the risk of manipulation, thus fostering trust in testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient locations across Navassa, NC, and nationwide. Our numerous centers ensure testing services are quick, easy, and hassle-free for all clients.

With a network of accessible locations, testing becomes a straightforward process, providing clients with prompt and straightforward access to assessments wherever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Navassa, NC, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential. Clients can enjoy an easy procedure from ordering to results, all while preserving privacy and convenience.

The seamless and confidential processes we offer address privacy concerns, ensuring that testing is user-friendly and discreet for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Navassa, NC offers competitive and affordable pricing for hair follicle testing. Our fast turnaround times provide exceptional value to businesses, regardless of size.

With cost-effective structures and swift result delivery, clients receive significant value and assurance, making the process both effective and economical.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Navassa, NC offers fast and reliable hair follicle testing, known for its precision. These tests swiftly deliver results, demonstrating high accuracy in substance detection compared to other methods.

With state-of-the-art techniques, hair follicle testing in Navassa ensures exceptional precision in identifying drug use, bolstering trust and confidence in the results generated.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Navassa, NC can pursue compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. This method supports adherence to workplace drug-free policies, mitigating legal issues, and enhancing safety.

By opting for hair testing, organizations reinforce their commitment to a safe and compliant work environment, benefitting overall operational success.

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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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