Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Surf City, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug markers by embedding them within the fibers of the growing strand. When collected close to the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to three months for substances like alcohol and other drugs. It is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch specimen of around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg, which is optimal for screening and confirming results. For EtG and additional tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is suggested. We advise using a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair isn’t available, a similar amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four core procedures in the lab processing of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the preliminary integration of a sample into a lab's system. This step verifies that the sample was appropriately sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishes any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary check for drug usage. Although it is a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screening needs confirmation for courtroom admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive in Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at a lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening one of the most complex methods.

Verification of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug use over up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which cover a shorter period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, making the results more reliable.
• Supplies historical context: It can reveal a timeline of substance use, not only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to pinpoint recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be more costly than other testing approaches.
• Inconsistent results: Elements such as hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: While frequently called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the root beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Tops Urine Testing in Surf City, NC
Hair follicle tests outperform urine tests due to superior detection precision and reliability. With extensive coverage of drug use history, hair tests offer clearer insights than urine analysis. They withstand substances' masking or diluting, presenting an unalterable record of drug use. This provides Surf City businesses with a dependable way to enforce drug-free policies.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Surf City, NC offers an extended detection window, revealing drug use history up to 90 days prior. This lengthy monitoring period offers employers a detailed understanding of an applicant's or employee's substance history, surpassing the limitations of other methods. This capability aids businesses in ensuring a safer, drug-free workplace by studying an individual's long-term drug activity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Highlighted in Surf City, NC, hair follicle testing significantly lowers the risk of sample tampering. Unlike other drug tests that may succumb to adulteration, hair tests maintain integrity with results that are nearly impossible to alter. This ensures reliable findings for employers and other stakeholders, establishing a trustworthy testing method that withstands attempts at deception.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Enjoy convenient drug testing with Accredited Drug Testing's numerous centers in Surf City, NC, and nationwide. These locations provide straightforward access to testing services, minimizing hassle and maximizing efficiency for clients. Whether local or across the country, our centers ensure swift and streamlined testing experiences, accommodating patients and staff alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing process in Surf City, NC is simple and confidential. From ordering to obtaining results, each step prioritizes privacy and ease. Designed to alleviate concerns about confidentiality, our process ensures discreet treatment, safeguarding patient details while offering seamless and stress-free experience throughout the testing procedures.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Surf City, NC ensures competitive affordable pricing and rapid results for hair follicle testing. These reasonably-priced services cater to companies of all scales, delivering excellent value without compromising quality. The quick turnaround times mean peace of mind is just around the corner, facilitating businesses in maintaining workplace standards without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Experience fast and accurate hair follicle drug testing in Surf City, NC. With exceptional precision, these tests offer reliable insight into substance use. Detecting various drugs, the high accuracy rate of hair follicle testing outmatches other methods. Quick processing ensures that individuals and employers receive prompt results, crucial for making informed decisions and maintaining safety standards.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Surf City, NC, adopting hair follicle testing assures employers of compliance with drug-free policies, reducing potential legal challenges and enhancing the overall safety of the workplace. This testing method fosters a peaceful environment, allowing management to confidently uphold drug regulations, thereby boosting company reliability and worker well-being.

Drug Testing Near Surf City, NC

Kings Grant, NC

Castle Hayne, NC

Wrightsville Beach, NC

Murraysville, NC

Rocky Point, NC

Ogden, NC

Maple Hill, NC

Bayshore, NC

Verona, NC

Porters Neck, NC

Sneads Ferry, NC

Hampstead, NC

North Topsail Beach, NC

Topsail Beach, NC

Holly Ridge, 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