Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Skyland, NC

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a historical record of alcohol and drugs over time by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair offers a detection span of up to roughly three months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, is relatively resistant to tampering, and can be easily sent.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 strands of hair (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample size for both screening and confirmation purposes. For tests like EtG, add-ons, and ones that exceed ten panels, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. It's suggested to use a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair can't be provided, an equivalent volume of body hair can be gathered. In this context, head hair exclusively denotes scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

At the Accessioning stage, a sample is initially processed into a lab's system. This phase involves ensuring the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry needed that wasn't supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial, rapid check for substances of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Any samples presumed positive during Screening mandate further confirmation.

Should the initial Screening phase suggest a positive result, additional hair is taken from the original sample to prepare for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening among the most challenging methods to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is accomplished through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process, spanning from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation meeting ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify drug usage for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests, which offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is incredibly challenging, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical insight: It provides a drug usage timeline over an extended period, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days following use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is usually pricier compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences may influence the drug metabolite concentrations within the hair.

Note: Commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the test itself actually assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests in Skyland, NC, with superior accuracy and reliability in substance detection.

Demonstrating greater detection capability, hair follicle tests provide a more reliable indication of drug use compared to conventional urine testing methods.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Skyland, NC benefit from hair follicle testing's extensive detection window. It reveals drug use patterns up to 90 days prior, offering a detailed view of an individual's substance history.

With a longer detection period, hair follicle testing presents employers with comprehensive insights into an employee's or candidate's substance use history, unmatched by other methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Skyland, NC, the integrity of hair follicle tests minimizes chances of sample tampering, ensuring trustworthy and accurate results.

Hair follicle testing significantly reduces risks of adulterated samples, providing reliable outcomes in a method resistant to tampering and cheating.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our widespread locations ensure testing is easily accessible in Skyland, NC. Whether local or elsewhere, nationwide centers provide convenient, quick service.

The nationwide network of testing centers, including in Skyland, NC, provides hassle-free and straightforward access for everyone in need of testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Skyland, NC, the process for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential, ensuring user privacy from ordering to receiving results.

An easy, discreet procedure guarantees privacy and ease of use for all individuals undergoing hair follicle testing in Skyland, NC.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Skyland, NC, competitive pricing and quick results make hair follicle testing an appealing option for businesses, combining affordability with swift service.

Our competitive rates coupled with fast turnaround times offer excellent value, making hair follicle testing a practical choice for companies in Skyland, NC.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Skyland, NC, hair follicle tests are celebrated for their quick, accurate, and dependable outcomes. Their ability to reliably detect substances makes them a top choice.

Speed and precision are key benefits of hair follicle drug tests, offering unmatched accuracy in detecting substance use and ensuring reliable results fast.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring compliance with drug-free policies, hair follicle testing provides peace of mind for employers in Skyland, NC, reducing legal risks and enhancing workplace safety.

Rely on hair follicle testing in Skyland, NC for secure adherence to workplace standards and a supportive, risk-free environment.

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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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