Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Richfield, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within its strands. When collected near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period extending up to three months for both alcohol and drugs. It's straightforward to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp equates to 100mg, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and verification. For EtG, expansive panels, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent volume of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types such as facial and underarm hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result consists of four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves initially inputting a sample into a lab’s system. This step verifies the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and involves any manual data entry not supported by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial swift evaluation for drug presence. Although Screening is an economical means to initially assess most samples, any positive finding requires validation to be court-viable. Samples flagged as positive during Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests positive during Screening, additional hair from the original collection is prepared for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations than seen in other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), underscoring the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmation of all positive screenings is accomplished through methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all positive samples are cleansed as necessary. The complete process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is scrutinized per both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter periods.
• Hard to manipulate: It's notably tough to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result reliability.
• Delivers historical insight: It outlines a chronology of drug use beyond mere recent consumption.

Limitations:

• No recent usage detection: A window of 5-7 days is necessary for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair drug tests typically have a higher cost than alternate testing techniques.
• Result variations: Influences such as hair color and personal hair growth discrepancies can alter drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The hair follicle test in Richfield, NC, provides superior detection capability compared to traditional urine tests. This method offers a longer detection window, typically capturing drug use up to 90 days prior, which urine tests may miss.

Employers find that hair testing furnishes more comprehensive insights into substance use, bolstering policies aimed at maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Extended Detection Window

The allure of hair follicle testing in Richfield, NC, lies in its extended detection window. Unlike other methods, it tracks drug use going back as much as 90 days.

This thorough tracking period helps employers gain an extensive overview of an individual's substance consumption history, informing better hiring and management decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Richfield, NC, hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method that dramatically cuts down the possibility of adulterated samples.

This ensures that results are both reliable and indisputable, providing peace of mind for those requiring integrity in testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient local and nationwide testing facilities, including in Richfield, NC, we ensure easy accessibility to hair follicle testing.

Our extensive network means a quick and hassle-free testing process regardless of your location, yielding immense convenience for employers and individuals alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Richfield, NC, the process for hair follicle testing is both straightforward and maintains strict confidentiality.

From ordering to receiving results, every step is designed to safeguard privacy while ensuring a seamless user experience, addressing any concerns regarding ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and rapid turnaround in Richfield, NC, our hair testing services provide exceptional value.

Companies of all sizes can take advantage of our competitive rates and quick response times, reinforcing the choice for reliable drug testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Richfield, NC, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its accuracy and reliability. The results are obtained quickly, reflecting high sensitivity in detecting any substance use. This makes it an ideal choice for organizations and individuals seeking swift yet dependable outcomes.

Advanced technology in hair testing ensures results that one can trust, providing a dependable portrait of an individual’s drug history.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Richfield, NC, find that hair follicle testing greatly assists in sustaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies.

This method not only reduces legal vulnerabilities but also enhances the overall safety and peace of mind by ensuring accuracy in monitoring substance non-use among employees.

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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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