Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Princeville, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a long-term record of alcohol and drug usage by immobilizing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When obtained near the scalp, hair can deliver an up to 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg, the optimum sample for assessment and validation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests surpassing 10 panels, 150mg is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing is recommended. If scalp hair is not present, an equivalent measure of body hair may be obtained. When mentioning head hair, it pertains only to scalp hair. Body hair covers all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into the lab's infrastructure. This encompasses verifying the sample's proper sealing and shipping, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial swift assessment for abusive substances. Although Screening is an economical technique to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for court admissibility. Samples presumptively positive in Screening necessitate a confirmatory follow-up.

Should a sample be presumptively positive in the Screening phase, further hair is extracted from the initial specimen for preparation during Extraction. This phase involves drug extraction from hair at a significantly lower concentration relative to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underpinning the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmed positive screens undergo verification via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Expanded detection period: Hair drug tests can track drug consumption for up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter detection span of urine tests.
• Difficult to falsify: Cheating on a hair drug test is challenging, enhancing the reliability of the outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It delivers a drug usage pattern over time, rather than just showcasing recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to pinpoint recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair pigmentation and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not on the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Princeville, NC, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests with its superior detection capabilities. Hair testing is highly accurate and reliable, providing a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's drug use history.

The benefits of hair testing over urine tests include its ability to detect substance use over a longer period, offering a more complete picture as compared to the limited detection window of urine tests.

Urine tests may offer quick results, but they lack the broad detection range that hair follicle tests provide. In Princeville, NC, this makes hair testing a more favored choice for thorough drug use analyses.

Extended Detection Window

In Princeville, NC, hair follicle testing illuminates drug use over an extended period of up to 90 days. This long detection window offers employers a deeper insight into the substance use history of potential hires or current employees.

Employers in Princeville, NC, benefit significantly from the comprehensive detection capabilities of hair follicle tests, gaining a broader understanding of an individual's past drug use.

The extended detection window provided by hair follicle tests in Princeville, NC gives employers assurance that they are making informed decisions based on a complete substance use history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Princeville, NC greatly reduce the risk of sample tampering, providing results that are secure and trustworthy. This makes them a valuable tool for those seeking accurate drug testing.

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests is a significant advantage, ensuring that results are reflective of true substance use without the risk of adulteration.

In Princeville, NC, the reliability and integrity of hair follicle tests offer peace of mind, as the likelihood of tampered samples is heavily minimized.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Conveniently located testing centers nationwide, including Princeville, NC, make accessing hair follicle testing services quick and straightforward for all individuals in need.

With numerous locations nationwide, including Princeville, NC, Accredited Drug Testing provides hassle-free and accessible testing options to ensure ease for clients.

Whether located locally in Princeville or elsewhere, testing services are readily available, ensuring prompt accessibility and convenience for any necessary testing requirements.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple, confidential process of hair follicle testing in Princeville, NC ensures that ordering, performing, and receiving results is both discrete and straightforward.

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the testing process in Princeville, NC, addressing privacy concerns while maintaining simplicity and ease for those undergoing hair follicle tests.

In Princeville, NC, clients can trust a hair follicle testing process that values confidentiality and simplicity, ensuring a smooth and private experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Princeville, NC, our competitive pricing for hair follicle testing services ensures that companies of all sizes can access quality testing without breaking the budget.

Fast turnaround times and affordable pricing in Princeville, NC make hair follicle testing an attractive option for companies needing quick and economical solutions for drug testing needs.

Providing excellent value, our hair follicle testing services in Princeville, NC offer affordable pricing and rapid results, proving advantageous for businesses seeking cost-efficient testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, accurate, and reliable results make hair follicle testing in Princeville, NC a preferred option. The high precision of these tests allows for reliable detection of drug use, ensuring that results are dependable and meet the expectations of employers and legal entities.

The speed with which hair follicle drug tests return results is unparalleled. In Princeville, NC, this ensures that those needing results can receive them quickly without compromising on accuracy or reliability.

Accuracy is essential in drug testing, and hair follicle tests in Princeville, NC offer just that. The unparalleled precision of these tests ensures that employers and legal bodies can have confidence in their outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

By using hair follicle testing, employers in Princeville, NC can ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal liability and enhancing overall safety.

Employers gain peace of mind knowing that hair follicle testing in Princeville, NC provides a reliable method to uphold zero-tolerance drug policies and safeguard their workforce.

Ensuring workplace compliance and fostering a safe environment is possible with hair follicle testing in Princeville, NC, aligning company practices with legal and safety standards.

Drug Testing Near Princeville, NC

Hassell, NC

Oak City, NC

Falkland, NC

Belvoir, NC

Parmele, NC

Macclesfield, NC

Hobgood, NC

Bethel, NC

Pinetops, NC

Leggett, NC

Speed, NC

Sparta, NC

Conetoe, NC

Henrietta, NC

Tarboro, NC

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews