Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Plain View, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective technique in identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer up to about a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. The collection process for hair is straightforward, moderately resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprised of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be utilized. "Head hair" pertains specifically to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" refers to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of incorporating a sample into a laboratory's system. This process ensures the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any additional data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid analysis for substances of abuse. Though Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug consumption in most cases, a positive result must be verified to be admissible in legal settings. Samples with initially positive Screening tests require further confirmation.

Where a sample yields a presumptively positive result at the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug analysis the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening findings is accomplished using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug analyses can register drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine analyses which have a shorter detection duration.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating on a hair drug analysis is particularly challenging, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Provides historical data: It can establish a pattern of drug consumption over time, rather than merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs can only be detected in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Cost: Hair drug analyses typically incur higher expenses than alternative drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis itself examines the hair strand rather than the follicle located beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Advantages Over Urine Testing: In Plain View, NC, hair follicle testing triumphs over traditional urine tests with its superior detection reliability, offering more credible and consistent results for individuals and entities requiring trust in testing outcomes.

Higher Detection Accuracy: Compared to urine tests, hair tests in Plain View, NC, provide a much more accurate and reliable drug detection rate, ensuring confidence in the test results and ultimately fostering a safer environment.

Extended Detection Window

Longer Detection Period: Hair follicle testing in Plain View, NC, offers an extended detection window for drug use, stretching up to 90 days. This provides employers a thorough view of an individual's substance history, aiding in informed decisions.

Comprehensive Substance History: The ability to detect drug use over a prolonged period makes hair follicle testing in Plain View, NC, an invaluable tool for employers seeking a complete understanding of an applicant's or employee's drug use history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Reducing Tampering Risks: Hair follicle tests conducted in Plain View, NC, significantly cut down on the risk of sample tampering, ensuring that results are not only reliable but also unquestionable, boosting the stakeholders' confidence in the testing system.

Ensuring Authenticity: By minimizing the possibility of adulteration, hair follicle testing in Plain View, NC, provides authenticity and reliability, making it a leading choice for secure drug testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Nationwide Accessibility: With our extensive network of testing centers, individuals in Plain View, NC, and beyond can access convenient, local, and nationwide testing locations, providing an effortless testing experience.

Local Convenience: Offering both local and nationwide sites, our hair follicle testing services in Plain View, NC, ensure easy and stress-free access, meeting the diverse needs of our clients effectively.

Simple, Confidential Process

Confidential and Simple Process: We offer a streamlined and discreet process for hair follicle testing in Plain View, NC, guaranteeing that the ordering, testing, and result receiving stages address privacy concerns effectively.

Ease and Privacy: Ensuring a simple, confidential method of testing in Plain View, NC, we cater to privacy fears, making hair follicle testing a hassle-free and straightforward choice for end-users.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective Solutions: Our competitive pricing models in Plain View, NC, ensure that companies of various scales can benefit from hair follicle testing without burdening budgets, offering premium value.

Fast Turnaround Time: Enjoy the benefits of quick and efficient hair follicle testing services in Plain View, NC, with rapid turnaround times, delivering results promptly and efficiently to suit business needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Speed and Accuracy in Hair Testing: In Plain View, NC, hair follicle tests are recognized for their rapid and precise results, ensuring timely and accurate detection of substance use. Their technological superiority provides a high accuracy level, making them a preferred choice.

Reliable Substance Detection: The precision of hair follicle testing stands out. In Plain View, NC, these tests detect drug use accurately, providing reliable results that help make informed decisions effectively and efficiently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance: In Plain View, NC, hair follicle testing helps employers maintain adherence to drug-free workplace policies, reducing the risk of legal issues and enhancing overall workplace safety.

Peace of Mind for Employers: Using hair follicle tests, employers in Plain View, NC, can ensure policy compliance, leading to a safer working environment and effectively mitigating potential legal complications.

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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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