Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Staley, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly regarded as an effective means of identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of substance intake by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When trimmed near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly 90 days for substances like alcohol. Hair sample collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample segment measuring 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 hair strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for both screening and verification. For tests exceeding 10 panels, EtG or additional tests, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is recommended. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a similar quantity of body hair may be gathered. When referring to head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug testing laboratory procedure is comprised of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial intake of a sample into a lab's system. This step includes confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data input that an electronic chain of custody system might lack.

Screening involves an initial swift test for drug presence. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be valid for legal purposes. Samples that yield a presumptive positive during Screening necessitate a further confirmation.

Should a sample indicate a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are drawn out from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other tests (like urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug analysis is deemed the most intricate to perform.

Verification of any positive result from screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are washed as needed before confirmation. The complete process from Accessioning through Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and accreditation with ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug intake for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests that have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating on a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, which enhances the accuracy of results.
• Reveals historical patterns: It provides an overview of drug usage over time, going beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Unable to identify recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the assessment actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair testing outshines traditional urine testing in Staley, NC, offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests can reveal drug use over an extended period, providing a more comprehensive view of an individual's substance history. This long-term insight is invaluable to employers, courts, and other stakeholders needing accurate assessments.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Staley, NC, provides insightful substance histories up to 90 days. This long-term analysis gives employers detailed evaluations of current or prospective employees' drug use, offering a broader overview than typical procedures. A longer detection time means a more robust screening for consistent substance abuse patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Staley, NC, hair follicle testing offers a tamper-resistant approach, minimizing the risk of sample adulteration. Unlike other methods susceptible to manipulation, hair samples provide a reliable and definitive record of substance use, ensuring testing integrity. This security translates to more trustworthy results that parties can confidently use in decision-making processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient access to services with numerous national testing locations and local facilities in Staley, NC. Our widespread network ensures that clients can easily access testing services whenever needed, minimizing disruptions and promoting seamless, hassle-free experiences for all involved parties.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Staley, NC, our hair follicle drug testing process is straightforward and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease of use. From seamless ordering to discreet sample collection and result delivery, we prioritize user-friendly, secure experiences, alleviating concerns about privacy while maintaining high standards of service excellence.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our testing services in Staley, NC, are characterized by competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, presenting an attractive value proposition for businesses of all sizes. By offering affordable rates and speedy results, Accredited Drug Testing helps organizations manage costs while upholding rigorous standards of accuracy and reliability in drug testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Staley, NC, hair follicle testing emerges as a precise and rapid means of substance detection. Known for its high accuracy, this method surpasses others by efficiently identifying a wide range of substances with minimal waiting times. The swift processing of samples ensures individuals and organizations receive reliable results promptly, reinforcing trust in drug testing procedures.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Staley, NC, implementing hair follicle testing fosters compliance with drug-free policies, supporting workplace safety and legal conformity. Through high-precision tests, employers gain assurance in maintaining a secure environment, mitigating potential legal issues, and promoting a culture of trust and responsibility within their teams.

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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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