Hair Follicle Drug Testing - South Henderson, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has increasingly become recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands archive a long-term timeline of substance use by encapsulating indicators within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection window of up to three months for alcohol and other substances. The collection process is straightforward, it is somewhat resistant to tampering, and it is easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section comprising roughly 200 strands of hair (similar in size to a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp yields about 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, enhancements, and/or tests covering more than 10 panels, a quantity of 150mg is advised. It is suggested to weigh the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, a comparable volume of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The essential stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary incorporation of a sample into the laboratory’s workflow. This encompasses ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, providing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening acts as an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. Although Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be accepted in court. Any samples with a provisional positive result in Screening necessitate an additional confirmation.

When a sample is identified as presumptively positive during Screening, further hair is taken from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at significantly diminished concentrations compared to other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), which positions hair drug screening as the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is conducted with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptively positive are cleaned prior to confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can identify substance use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests that have a more limited detection period.
• Hard to bypass: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, thereby increasing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It provides patterns of substance use over an extended time frame, not solely immediate use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become identifiable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the assessment analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Triumphs Over Urine Testing in South Henderson, NC. Hair tests excel with superior detection accuracy, revealing longer-term substance usage reliably. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis can identify drug history up to 90 days, offering unmatched precision in uncovering habitual drug consumption.
The detailed insights provided make it an invaluable tool for organizations committed to maintaining a drug-free environment.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window allows hair follicle testing to unveil substance use over a longer duration, often extending up to 90 days. In South Henderson, NC, this provides employers with a thorough understanding of an individual's drug history.
With such longitudinal insight, companies gain a robust mechanism to assess the potential risks associated with hiring decisions, promoting a secure workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing methods inherent to hair follicle tests make them incredibly hard to adulterate. This ensures reliable outcomes that are beyond question. In South Henderson, NC, minimizing sample tampering reduces false-negative results, providing employers with trustworthy data.
An observed collection process ensures authenticity, boosting confidence in the results obtained from hair analysis.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations offer ease and accessibility to testing services across the board. In South Henderson, NC, having local and nationwide centers ensures testing is quick and hassle-free.
With the presence of Accredited Drug Testing locations, the community enjoys prompt access to top-tier diagnostic services, thus facilitating efficient drug testing solutions across the region.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in South Henderson, NC, ensures a straightforward and private procedure from ordering to result reception. This process addresses key privacy concerns, offering ease of use.
Clients experience a smooth transaction, fostered by a seamless and respectful approach to drug testing that prioritizes confidentiality throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround are hallmarks of hair follicle testing services in South Henderson, NC. This method combines competitive pricing with quick results, offering excellent value for all companies.
By ensuring rapid turnaround, organizations can proceed with drug-free initiatives without delay, maintaining a productive and safe workplace.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and Speed in hair follicle testing offer highly accurate results, ensuring that any substance use is detected correctly and promptly. This method is favored in South Henderson, NC, due to its ability to pinpoint drug intake accurately, ensuring reliable feedback is delivered swiftly.
The high accuracy and rapid processing make it a preferred choice in various sectors seeking dependable drug testing methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind are assured for employers utilizing hair follicle testing in South Henderson, NC. These tests aid in complying with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks while enhancing safety.
Such assurance translates to a more secure work environment, where employees and employers alike are protected by rigorous and systematic drug screening processes.

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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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