Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Providence, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly viewed as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended history by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers during growth. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol usage over a roughly 3-month timeframe. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section containing around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil size) closest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advised. The specimen's weight should be verified using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent volume of body hair can be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for drug test results involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary step where a sample is entered into the lab’s system. This procedure includes ensuring proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN) randomly, and filling in any data not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial, rapid assessment for drug presence. Although Screening can economically eliminate drug usage in most samples, any positive result must be corroborated to be court-eligible. Samples that are presumptively positive require additional confirmation.

If a sample appears positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing particularly challenging.

To confirm any positive screening results, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS is used. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as needed. The whole lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated according to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter duration for detection.
• Difficulty to deceive: The accuracy of hair drug tests is due to the difficulty of manipulation.
• Long-term data: It delivers a timeline of drug use over an extended duration, rather than just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative testing methods.
• Inconsistent results: The concentration of drug metabolites in hair can be influenced by hair color and individual growth variances.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the examination targets the hair strand rather than the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When considering hair follicle testing against traditional urine tests in Providence, NC, hair testing offers superior accuracy. Hair tests have a longer detection window, which makes them more reliable.

Hair follicle testing minimizes the chances of sample tampering and provides a clearer view of an individual's drug use history, making it a preferred choice for employers.

Extended Detection Window

The hair follicle testing method employed in Providence, NC provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This duration offers employers a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance use.

Employers benefit from this detailed insight into drug habits, aiding in better decision-making when it comes to hiring and maintaining a safe workspace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing significantly reduces the risk of tampering in Providence, NC. This testing method ensures that sample adulteration is minimized, resulting in reliable outcomes.

Due to its resistance to tampering, hair follicle testing stands out as a trustworthy method for accurate drug screening.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With comprehensive testing centers available nationwide, including locations in Providence, NC, our services are convenient and accessible.

The reach of our testing facilities ensures swift, straightforward, and efficient access to hair follicle testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for conducting hair follicle testing in Providence, NC is simple and maintains confidentiality at each step.

From ordering to receiving results, every phase respects privacy, streamlining the experience for users.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Providence, NC, our hair follicle testing services are competitively priced and offer fast turnaround times.

These affordably priced services provide exceptional value, catering to businesses of various sizes while ensuring peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Providence, NC, hair follicle drug tests deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results. This method boasts impressive precision, detecting even trace amounts of substances efficiently.

These tests are known for their exceptional accuracy and ability to deliver immediate results, ensuring that individuals and organizations can rely on the information provided.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Providence, NC can achieve compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. This robust method supports drug-free workplace policies.

The reliability of hair follicle tests helps employers reduce legal risks and fosters a safer workplace environment.

Drug Testing Near Providence, NC

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Indian Trail, NC

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Stallings, NC

Matthews, NC

Weddington, 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.

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