Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Shannon, NC

What it is, How it works

The practice of hair testing has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can offer an extensive timeline of alcohol and drug usage by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strands. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a roughly three-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample, roughly equivalent to about 200 strands or the diameter of a #2 pencil from the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmatory analysis. For EtG, extra measures, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a recommendation of 150mg is advised. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. In cases where scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount from the body may be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically relates to scalp hair. Body hair covers all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results revolves around four core steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

The Accessioning step entails the sample’s initial entry into a laboratory’s framework. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

The Screening phase performs an initial swift assessment for drug abuse. While screening is a budget-friendly method to eliminate drug presence in most cases, any positive findings must be validated to be legally valid. Samples that screen positively on a presumptive basis require subsequent confirmation.

When a sample evidences a presumptive positive result during the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drug compounds are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations than in other approaches (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of conducting hair drug analysis.

Confirmation of any initial positive result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review adhering to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug consumption for a duration of up to 90 days, whereas urine tests capture a shorter timeframe.
• Less susceptible to tampering: Cheating in a hair drug test is notably difficult, thus increasing result reliability.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals substance usage patterns over time, not just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately after 5-7 days.
• Cost implications: Hair drug testing is generally pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Drug metabolite concentration in hair can be affected by factors such as hair color and individual growth rate differences.

Note: Although colloquially known as "hair follicle tests", the actual test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Shannon, NC
Opting for hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests offers multiple advantages, including improved detection accuracy. Hair tests capture a broader timeline of substance use, providing a comprehensive review of an individual’s history. Compared to urine tests, which offer a narrower detection window, hair analysis ensures superior reliability and accuracy in identifying drug use for up to 90 days.

In Shannon, NC, the switch to hair follicle testing presents a more formidable solution for companies needing thorough checks. The enhanced credibility of hair testing stems from its capacity to detect long-term substance exposure, making it a more favored option over the conventional urine test.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Shannon, NC
Hair follicle testing presents a significantly longer detection window, identifying drug use for up to 90 days. This extensive timeframe ensures employers in Shannon, NC, can make well-informed decisions regarding an employee’s history with substances. Unlike other methods, hair analysis provides a deep retrospective insight into an individual’s lifestyle choices.

Offering a more complete overview, the extended detection period of hair follicle testing is particularly useful for businesses keen on maintaining a drug-free environment. This method grants organizations the necessary perspective on an individual’s prolonged substance use habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Shannon, NC
The hair follicle drug test is recognized for its resistance to tampering. This method minimizes the risk of adultery, yielding results that stand beyond scrutiny. For testers in Shannon, NC, this ensures unparalleled reliability and confidence in every outcome, significantly reducing errors linked to sample manipulation.

Employing immune methods to prevent adulteration, hair testing solidifies its reputation as a trustworthy approach. The tamper-proof characteristics of hair tests make them superior in producing uncontestable and accurate evaluations, crucial for maintaining integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Shannon, NC
The vast network of testing centers across the nation ensures seamless and easy access throughout Shannon, NC. Accredited Drug Testing offers local options, delivering hassle-free experiences for those needing assessments. Convenience in scheduling tests significantly aids in maintaining regulatory requirements with minimal disruption.

With strategic placement, each testing location focuses on serving client needs, offering timely access to services. Adaptability in our regional and national centers underscores commitment to quality and customer simplicity.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Shannon, NC
Engaging in the hair follicle drug testing process is straightforward and private. Our services cater to easy ordering, seamless testing, and prompt delivery of confidential results. Clients are assured of the privacy and protection of their personal data every step of the way in Shannon, NC

The confidential approach to hair testing minimizes concerns around information security. The structured, user-friendly system ensures that clients’ needs are met efficiently and privately, guaranteeing peace of mind throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Shannon, NC
Our competitive pricing strategy ensures that businesses of all sizes have access to top-tier hair follicle testing without overspending. In Shannon, NC, our services promise not only economic pricing but also swiftness in providing results. Swift turnaround times complement our affordability, bringing both value and reliability in testing.

The cost-effective nature of our offerings permits testing at scale, guaranteeing you the best service at the best price. This attractive affordability, combined with prompt results, underscores our commitment to client satisfaction.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Shannon, NC
Hair follicle drug tests offer exceptional precision and speed, making them a preferred choice for detecting substance use. Their high accuracy ensures credible outcomes, offering a reliable method for assessing drug presence. These tests provide quick and transparent results, streamlining the detection process and offering peace of mind to testers in Shannon, NC.

The hair testing approach is developed for efficacy, ensuring that the results are both prompt and dependable. By choosing hair follicle testing, individuals and organizations in Shannon, NC, can be confident in the precision of the outcomes, bringing an enhanced level of assurance to the drug testing process.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Shannon, NC
Hair follicle testing solidifies adherence to drug-free workplace policies, offering Shannon, NC employers peace of mind. By implementing this thorough testing method, businesses can mitigate legal risks and promote a safer work environment. This assurance fosters the maintenance of high safety standards necessary in a professional setting.

Adopting hair testing helps verify workers' sobriety over extended durations, helpful in demonstrating policy compliance. Providing robust evaluations assures employers, greatly enhancing workplace security and guarding against potential infractions.

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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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