Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Orrum, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, relatively tough to tamper with, and straightforward to ship.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches containing roughly 200 hair strands (similar to the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal quantity for analysis and confirmation. For tests including EtG, add-ons, or those exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair. In contrast, body hair comprises all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Summary

The drug testing process in a laboratory follows four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning begins with introducing the sample into the laboratory's system. This step involves ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipping, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and managing any supplementary data entry that an electronic chain of custody system hasn't provided.

Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for abuse substances. Although it is cost-effective for excluding possible drug use in most samples, if Screening results are positive, these need verification to be valid in a legal context. Samples that exhibit preliminary positives during Screening require a secondary confirmation.

For a sample marked as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair from the initial sample is set aside for Extraction. In this process, drugs are extracted from the hair at much lower concentrations than in other strategies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of performing hair drug screening.

Confirmation takes place through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS for any preliminary positive results. Preparation for confirmation includes washing presumptive positive samples as necessary. From Accessioning through to Confirmation, the entire laboratory procedure adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Pros of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can find drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which detect use over a shorter span.
• Difficult to manipulate: It is notably challenging to falsify a hair drug test, ensuring more reliable outcomes.
• Long-term usage data: It reveals a pattern of drug consumption over a duration rather than just recent usage.

Drawbacks:

• Lacks ability to detect recent usage: For drugs to become evident in hair, about 5-7 days are needed.
• Expenses: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other drug test options.
• Result variation: Elements such as hair pigment and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests," the procedure in fact examines the hair strand instead of the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Orrum, NC

Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing provides superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests may detect recent usage more effectively, hair tests uncover substance use over extended periods.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Orrum, NC

Hair follicle testing is prized for its ability to trace drug use over a significant period—up to 90 days. Employers gain a comprehensive understanding of an applicant or employee's substance history, making it a preferred screening tool.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Orrum, NC

Hair follicle tests significantly decrease the chance of sample adulteration, ensuring reliable and incontrovertible results. This makes them invaluable for organizations requiring trustworthy assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Orrum, NC

Our extensive network of testing centers nationwide guarantees swift, straightforward, and stress-free access to testing services, regardless of location.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Orrum, NC

Our testing process is designed to be simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns and ensuring ease of use from ordering to receiving results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Orrum, NC

We offer competitive pricing structures and swift turnaround times, delivering exceptional value and reassurance for businesses of any size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Orrum, NC

Hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and speed in detecting substance use, ensuring fast, accurate results. This method stands out for its high level of accuracy, making it an ideal choice for employers and legal entities aiming to maintain safety and compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Orrum, NC

By adopting hair follicle testing, employers ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks and enhancing the safety of their work environments.

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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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