Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Silver City, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is regarded as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as hair grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair offers a detection window of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale is suggested for weighing the samples. If scalp hair cannot be sourced, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. When mentioning head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for handling a drug test result consists of four chief phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first phase, where a sample is entered into the laboratory system. This phase ensures that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary check for drug abuse. As a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen must undergo confirmation to be valid in legal contexts. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a far lower concentration than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirming a positive screening result involves GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if required. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to deceive: Tampering with a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides historical insight: It offers a timeline of drug use over time, rather than merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to appear in hair samples.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth variation can influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Silver City, NC, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests, offering superior accuracy and reliability. Benefits of hair tests become evident when drug detection accuracy and timing are crucial.

Employers prefer hair testing as it provides a comprehensive tool to enforce zero-tolerance policies. Comparatively, this method ensures accurate drug use detection over urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window, hair follicle testing in Silver City, NC, covers up to 90 days of possible drug use. This provides employers with a thorough view of a candidate's substance history, crucial for making informed decisions.

A notable attribute of hair testing is its ability to track substance use for an extended period. This long detection span is invaluable to employers for comprehensive substance history understanding.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Silver City, NC, offers a tamper-resistant method, significantly minimizing the risk of sample adulteration. This gives reliable and unequivocal results.

The robustness of hair tests presents an added security layer against tampering, ensuring test results are dependable and unimpeachable. Such reliability is crucial for maintaining integrity in drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Conveniently located testing centers in Silver City, NC, and nationwide provide easy access to required services. This ensures a quick, hassle-free testing experience.

With local and national availability, hair testing is made simple, accommodating the demands of diverse clients. The convenience of access assures timely and effective service provision.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Silver City, NC, is straightforward and confidential, reassuring clients about privacy and usability. Ordering, testing, and result reception are seamless and secure.

Aiming for customer confidentiality, the process is designed to be user-friendly and discreet, addressing privacy concerns effectively and promoting ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and swift turnaround, hair follicle testing in Silver City, NC, delivers great value to organizations. Competitive pricing structures and quick results make it a popular choice.

Fast result delivery along with reasonable pricing structures ensure hair tests provide companies with excellent service value, supporting businesses of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Silver City, NC, stands out due to its high precision and speed. This method provides fast, reliable results essential for employers to maintain a drug-free environment. Accuracy in detecting substance use is one of its key strengths.

The fast results of hair follicle tests provide a significant advantage to employers who need quick, yet dependable information. Precision in results makes it a top choice for accurate detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Silver City, NC, find peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies. Reducing legal risks and fostering a safer work environment is a key priority.

This testing method helps employers comply with legal and safety requirements, effectively minimizing hazards. The peace of mind it grants makes it an essential part of workplace safety strategies.

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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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