Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Allendale, SC

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair retains a long-lasting record of alcohol and drug presence by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol presence for up to roughly three months. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy for transportation.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of about 200 hair strands (similar to the size of a #2 pencil) clipped close to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is an ideal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For tests involving EtG, add-ons, and/or beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is preferred. We advise utilizing a jeweler’s scale for measuring the specimen's weight. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar amount of body hair may be collected. In context, head hair specifically refers to scalp hair only, while body hair encompasses hair from other areas (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal stages in laboratory analysis of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the introductory processing of a sample into the laboratory’s system. This encompasses verifying the correct sealing and dispatch of the sample, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing additional data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening signifies an initial rapid test for drug abuse. Screening provides a cost-effective means to potentially dismiss drug usage in most samples; however, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples showing presumed positivity in Screening necessitate secondary verification.

If the Screening phase yields a presumptive positive result, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which renders hair drug screening as one of the more complex methodologies to execute.

Affirmation of any positive screening outcome is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. All samples with presumptive positivity undergo a washing step prior to confirmation when necessary. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is examined according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditations.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection window.
• Hard to manipulate: It is exceptionally challenging to deceive a hair drug test, ensuring more accurate results.
• Historical usage data: Provides a usage pattern over time, rather than just indicating recent drug use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally pricier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual growth variations can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Despite commonly being termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Allendale, SC, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability.
Longer detection windows allow for a more comprehensive assessment of substance use histories.

Compared to more traditional urine tests, hair tests offer a more thorough and reliable screening process.

The reliability of hair follicle tests stems from their superior detection accuracy, ensuring no drug use goes unnoticed within a more extended time frame.

Extended Detection Window

In Allendale, SC, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection window, uncovering substance use over as long as 90 days.
This comprehensive window gives employers valuable insights into an individual's substance use patterns.

Hair testing's ability to detect drug use up to 90 days post-consumption offers a more thorough evaluation of an employee's history.

The prolonged detection period facilitates employers in gaining a better understanding of their workforce's substance-related activities.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Allendale, SC, hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant solution, significantly reducing sample adulteration risks.
This method provides reliable and unquestionable results that are difficult to compromise.

Thanks to their high resistance to tampering, hair follicle tests assure authentic and credible results.

Employers benefit from the security of knowing their test outcomes are genuine and devoid of manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Allendale, SC, our nationwide testing centers afford convenience, offering swift and stress-free access to our services.
This accessibility ensures everyone can readily undertake a hair follicle test, regardless of location.

The array of local and nationwide facilities ensures that testing is quick, efficient, and hassle-free.

Employers seeking fast and reliable testing will find our convenient locations an asset.

Simple, Confidential Process

Experience a simple and confidential process in Allendale, SC for hair follicle testing.
The straightforward steps ensure privacy is maintained every step of the way.

From ordering to receiving results, the process is user-friendly, ensuring minimal complications.

This streamlined process addresses privacy concerns directly, after providing a secure testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Allendale, SC, our pricing structure offers affordable options paired with fast turnaround for hair follicle testing.
This affordability guarantees that companies of all sizes derive great value with peace of mind.

Combining competitive pricing with swift results, our services provide companies with exceptional value.

Employers gain access to cost-effective testing options without compromising on result quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Allendale, SC, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable results for detecting substance use.
Precision and speed define these tests, providing confidence in their accuracy.

Hair follicle testing provides high accuracy in identifying substance use, making it an essential tool in the fight against drug abuse.

Emphasizing rapid results, this method ensures employers make quick decisions with confidence in the results' reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Allendale, SC, gain peace of mind as hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
Such measures help in reducing legal risks, enhancing overall workplace safety.

Utilizing hair follicle tests helps companies maintain strict adherence to workplace standards and prevents substance abuse.

This testing method offers assurance to employers by reducing potential drug-related incidents within the workplace.

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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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