Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Walstonburg, NC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for detecting substance and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair shaft. When procured close to the scalp, hair can provide up to an approximate 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's recommended to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be obtained. When mentioning head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome consists of four principal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into the laboratory's system. This includes ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concluding any further data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening encompasses a preliminary rapid assessment for drug misuse. Screening is a cost-efficient means to eliminate drug use in most samples, although a positive screen must be verified for court admissibility. Samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening require subsequent confirmation.

If the sample shows a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are obtained from hair at a notably reduced concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid); hence, hair drug screening poses the greatest challenge of execution.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is processed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review 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 drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a briefer detection period.
• Hard to deceive: Hair drug tests are tough to deceive, ensuring more reliable results.
• Historical usage data: It can reflect a pattern of drug consumption over time, extending beyond immediate use.

Limitations:

• No recent use detection: Drugs require about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur greater costs than other drug testing techniques.
• Inconsistent results: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth speed can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to urine tests in Walstonburg, NC, the advantages are clear. Hair testing outshines traditional urine methods by providing superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests capture a more extended history of substance use, making them indispensable for employers determined to enforce stringent drug prevention policies.

Extended Detection Window

In Walstonburg, NC, hair follicle testing stands out because of its extended detection window. Capable of revealing drug use up to 90 days back, this method allows employers to gather a comprehensive view of someone's past substance use, exceeding the limited timeframe of urine tests. This provides invaluable insights into a person’s long-term habits and ensures thorough background checks.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Walstonburg, NC offer a tamper-resistant testing methodology, greatly minimizing the possibility of sample adulteration. The procedure involves an observed collection, ensuring the integrity of the sample and providing unquestionable results. This foolproof method heightens the reliability and trust in workplace drug screenings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing facilities across the country, Walstonburg, NC enjoys unmatched convenience with easy access to hair follicle testing. Nationwide centers ensure fast, unhindered services, making it simple for individuals and employers to address their testing needs swiftly and without trouble across various locations.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Walstonburg, NC, our hair follicle testing process remains simple and confidential. Ordering and undertaking the test, followed by receiving results, is straightforward, prioritizing user privacy. This secure procedure assures participants of confidentiality, making the entire experience stress-free and easily manageable.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and swift turnaround characterize our hair follicle testing services in Walstonburg, NC. We offer competitive rates and rapid results, delivering optimal value to businesses of all scales. This approach combines cost-efficiency with quality, ensuring employers never compromise on accuracy or speed.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Walstonburg, NC is at the forefront of hair follicle testing due to its unmatched precision and efficiency. The technology guarantees fast and accurate detection of substance use, offering reliable results every time. Hair testing is trusted for its high degree of accuracy, ensuring that substance use history is depicted with utmost precision, which is crucial for maintaining strict policies.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Walstonburg, NC can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This method supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies, diminishing legal liabilities and augmenting workplace safety. By eliminating uncertainty around drug use, organizations can maintain a harmonious and secure work 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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