Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Shiloh, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as a robust means for detecting substance and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair strands, hair offers an extended history of alcohol and drug exposure. When sampled close to the scalp, hair analysis can provide an approximately 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to obtain, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both testing and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen quantity of 150mg is advised. It's suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, the term pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The key stages in the laboratory analysis of a drug test include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s workflow. This involves ensuring the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entries absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug usage in most samples, any positive screen must be validated for court acceptance. Samples indicating a presumptive positive during Screening do require secondary verification.

Should a sample exhibit a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this step, substances are derived from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every sample indicating a presumptive positive is subjected to washing prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the supervision of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeline: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for a maximum of 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• Resistance to tampering: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely challenging, thereby enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Tracks historical usage: It is capable of outlining a pattern of drug use over time, rather than indicating just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: A duration of 5-7 days is necessary for drugs to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result fluctuations: Variables such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth may influence the drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Shiloh, NC, hair follicle drug testing prevails over urine tests due to its superior detection and reliability. Hair testing surpasses traditional urine tests by offering a broader detection window and higher accuracy. Employers, courts, and professionals find hair tests invaluable as they mitigate tampering risks and extend beyond the limited timeframe of urine analysis, granting a thorough assessment.

Hair follicle testing offers Shiloh employers the advantage of heightened reliability. The accuracy of hair testing wins over urine analysis, especially when identifying drug use over extended periods. Employers trust the results, ensuring comprehensive assessments of employees' substance history.

Extended Detection Window

With a detection window up to 90 days, hair follicle tests provide Shiloh employers an extensive overview of substance history. Unlike urine tests, which cover shorter periods, hair analysis reveals comprehensive data on an individual's drug use, helping businesses make more informed decisions.

Employers in Shiloh benefit from the extended detection window of hair testing. This capability allows a deep dive into a potential hire's drug usage over months, ensuring a more informed hiring process that keeps workplace standards intact.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Shiloh significantly curtail tampering risks. The testing method's inherent resistance to adulteration ensures reliable outcomes. Every step, from collection to analysis, reduces the likelihood of sample manipulation, offering employers trustworthy results.

For Shiloh businesses, hair testing represents an almost impregnable defense against adulteration. Its process drastically minimizes any chance of sample tampering, resulting in trustworthy and credible results that employers can depend on with certainty.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing centers scattered across the nation, including Shiloh, NC, conducting drug tests becomes a seamless task. Employers and individuals enjoy quick, convenient access without the hassle. The availability of numerous centers ensures testing is accessible and efficient, easing company logistics.

The network of testing locations provides unparalleled convenience for Shiloh residents. Accredited Drug Testing simplifies the process by offering local and nationwide centers, reflecting a commitment to accessibility and user-friendliness for seamless drug screening experiences.

Simple, Confidential Process

Shiloh residents benefit from a straightforward hair testing process that's both simple and private. From scheduling to receiving results, every step is designed with privacy in mind. Aiding peace of mind, our confidential procedures ensure easy process handling for users concerned with discretion.

Accredited Drug Testing in Shiloh ensures a private hair follicle testing experience. Every phase, from test initiation to results delivery, maintains confidentiality, addressing privacy concerns effectively. Our straightforward approach lets users navigate the testing process with ease and assurance.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Shiloh, NC, Accredited Drug Testing provides competitively priced hair follicle tests with swift turnaround times. Companies of all sizes benefit from the combination of affordability and speed, receiving quality services without breaking the bank while experiencing seamless testing procedures.

Affordability and rapid results highlight Shiloh's hair follicle testing services. Competitive pricing structures offer excellent value, making this sophisticated testing accessible for various companies, which benefit from timely, cost-effective solutions that respect budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Shiloh, NC stands out for its fast and dependable hair follicle drug testing. With unmatched precision, hair testing detects even trace amounts of substances with high accuracy. This method not only assures employers of an applicant's substance use record but does it with efficiency and reliability, offering peace of mind.

Employers in Shiloh benefit from the swift outcomes of hair follicle tests. Unlike traditional methods, these tests offer precise results swiftly, flagging any traces of substance usage with great reliability. This speed and precision enhance decision-making for businesses.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Shiloh, NC, hair follicle testing aids employers in aligning with drug-free workplace policies. By employing this method, businesses mitigate legal liabilities and maintain a safe, productive environment. Hair testing's robustness ensures compliance and protects company reputation and resources.

Employers in Shiloh can rest easy knowing that hair follicle testing fortifies their drug-free initiatives. This method not only guarantees compliance but also enhances workplace safety, reducing the likelihood of accidents and legal challenges stemming from substance misuse.

Drug Testing Near Shiloh, NC

Gerton, NC

Mills River, NC

Weaverville, NC

Hoopers Creek, NC

Swannanoa, NC

Fletcher, NC

Fairview, NC

Midway, NC

Woodfin, NC

Enka, NC

Avery Creek, NC

Royal Pines, NC

Skyland, NC

Asheville, NC

Biltmore Forest, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews