Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sharpsburg, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a critical method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer an extended record of substance exposure by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. Collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeframe of up to 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, moderately challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section comprising roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirming tests. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests that exceed 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is recommended. If scalp hair is not present, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. By "head hair," we mean specifically scalp hair. "Body hair" denotes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning involves introducing a sample into a lab's system. This step includes checking that the sample was sealed and transported properly, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and handling any further data that wasn't part of an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for the presence of drugs. While Screening is a cost-effective method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive result during screening must be confirmed for it to be legally valid. Any samples that are presumptively positive during Screening require further confirmation.

For a sample that tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the primary sample and prepared for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are drawn from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug analysis is the most challenging method to execute.

Any positive Screening findings are verified through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned as necessary before confirmation. The complete process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can find drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a much shorter detection period.
• Challenges in deception: It is challenging to deceive a hair drug test, leading to more reliable consequences.
• Indicates usage history: It offers insights into a user’s drug consumption pattern over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It usually takes around 5-7 days for substances to become apparent in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair drug analyses are typically pricier than other drug testing practices.
• Result variability: Aspects such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests," the test focuses on analyzing the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Sharpsburg, NC
Hair testing holds several advantages over traditional urine tests. Its superior detection accuracy and long-term reliability provide a robust snapshot of drug use, making it the preferred choice for many employers keen on maintaining a drug-free environment.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Sharpsburg, NC
Hair follicle tests offer an impressive detection window of up to 90 days. This allows employers to gain a thorough understanding of an individual's substance use history, making it a valuable tool for long-term insight into drug usage patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Sharpsburg, NC
The hair follicle testing method significantly diminishes the risks of sample adulteration. This rigorous approach ensures the reliability of the results, fostering greater trust and confidence in the testing process and its outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Sharpsburg, NC
Our extensive network of testing centers across the country ensures that accessing our services is quick and hassle-free. Whether local or nationwide, Accredited Drug Testing provides seamless access to hair testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Sharpsburg, NC
The process of ordering, conducting, and receiving results from a hair follicle test is straightforward and discreet. It addresses privacy concerns while maintaining ease of use, ensuring a positive experience for all involved parties.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Sharpsburg, NC
Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times deliver significant value. We aim to provide quality service with rapid results, making our services appealing and manageable for businesses of varying sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Sharpsburg, NC
The precision and rapid results provided by hair follicle drug tests make them a trusted option for detecting substance use. Their high accuracy in capturing long-term drug activity sets them apart, ensuring confidence in the outcomes for both employers and test subjects.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Sharpsburg, NC
Employing hair follicle testing is an effective strategy for employers to comply with drug-free workplace policies. It minimizes legal risks and strengthens workplace safety, contributing to peace of mind and regulatory compliance.

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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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