Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Rex, NC

What it is, How it works

Within recent years, hair testing has emerged as a significant method to identify drug and alcohol consumption. By trapping biomarkers within the fibers of a growing hair strand, hair provides an extended history of substance use. When taken near the scalp, it can offer up to roughly a 3-month period for detection of both alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

Gathering a 1.5-inch sample containing about 200 strands of hair (roughly equivalent to a #2 pencil's width) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplementary tests, or analyses beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is suggested. It's advised to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If head hair isn't available, a similar amount of body hair can be used as an alternative. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning marks the sample's entry into a lab's system. This phase includes checking that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any extra data not captured by an electronic chain of custody method.

Screening provides an initial rapid drug check. Even though Screening is an economical approach to eliminate drug usage for most samples, a verified positive result is necessary for court acceptability. Samples deemed presumptively positive in Screening need a follow-up confirmation.

If Screening results in a presumptive positive, additional hair is sourced from the original sample for Extraction. This phase extracts drugs from hair at lower concentrations than techniques like urine or oral fluid testing, making hair drug screening a particularly challenging methodology.

Confirmation for any positive screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, each presumptive positive sample is washed when needed. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and with accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is notably challenging, ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers historical insights: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent behavior.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: It typically requires 5-7 days for drugs to become evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites present in the hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the actual test examines the strand of hair and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine testing in Rex, NC, the former stands out for its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests offer a broader detection window and are less prone to sample tampering, providing more dependable results. Such factors make hair tests a preferred method for those serious about rigorous substance detection.

Extended Detection Window

In Rex, NC, hair follicle testing is preferred due to its extended detection window, capturing substance use over the last 90 days. This timeline provides employers with a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s substance history, aiding in informed employment decisions and policy compliance.
By offering insight into an applicant's long-term substance use, hair testing stands as a valuable tool for businesses prioritizing workplace integrity and safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Rex, NC, is a tamper-resistant method that significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration. It provides reliable and unquestionable results, ensuring integrity in testing procedures. Because hair samples are collected under strict conditions, manipulation is challenging, making hair tests a more trustworthy choice for detecting illicit substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide testing centers and local facilities in Rex, NC, provide convenience and ease of access for those needing drug screenings. These centers offer prompt and hassle-free testing services, ensuring that clients experience minimal disruption. Whether in Rex or across the nation, our reach guarantees timely and efficient service delivery.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of getting a hair follicle test in Rex, NC is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step is designed for ease of use while preserving privacy. Clients can trust in a streamlined procedure that respects confidentiality, providing a seamless experience and ensuring peace of mind.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Rex, NC, we offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing. Our competitive rates and efficient service ensure excellent value, catering to companies of varied sizes. This affordability, paired with rapid results, supports organizations looking for cost-effective, high-quality drug testing options.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Rex, NC, offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests boast high efficacy in identifying substance use, providing critical insights quickly. The speed at which results are delivered not only supports timely decision-making but also ensures that businesses and individuals can rely on their accuracy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Rex, NC, gain peace of mind through hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free policies and reducing legal risks. This testing method helps maintain workplace safety by accurately identifying substance abuse, thus supporting a secure and compliant work environment. Implementing hair testing boosts confidence in policy adherence.

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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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