Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Santee, SC

What it is, How it works

Hair examinations have emerged as an effective method for detecting the use of drugs and alcohol. The composition of hair provides an extended record of alcohol and drug consumption by capturing biomarkers within the hair's fibers as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 90-day window for detecting alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, quite challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield approximately 100mg, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation tests. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the hair. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent volume of body hair could be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Outline

The laboratory analysis of a drug test result involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This process includes confirming that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any required data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial assessment for drugs of abuse. While this is a cost-effective method to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive result in Screening must be confirmed to be permissible in court. Samples with presumptively positive results in Screening require additional confirmation.

If a sample exhibits a presumptively positive result during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. In this stage, substances are drawn from hair at substantially lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug analysis:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection period.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is highly challenging to bypass a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Delivers historical insights: It provides a record of drug usage patterns over a duration, beyond just recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Unable to identify recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than alternative drug testing methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", these tests assess the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Santee, SC, hair follicle tests surpass urine tests due to their superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests reveal long-term substance use, presenting a complete profile rather than just recent consumption.

While urine tests are useful, hair tests offer extended detection beyond fleeting use, uncovering substance patterns unseen by traditional methods. Their precision stands out, benefiting employers needing thorough histories.

Extended Detection Window

In Santee, SC, hair follicle testing provides an unmatched, long detection window. Detectable up to 90 days, this offers employers a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance history.

This method allows for an in-depth insight into an applicant's or employee's drug use, ensuring informed hiring and monitoring decisions, crucial in maintaining productivity and workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Santee, SC benefits from hair follicle test's tamper-resistant nature; these tests significantly minimize sample adulteration risk, preserving result authenticity.

Due to their collection method, attempts to alter hair samples are cumbersome. This reliability ensures unquestionable results, protecting the integrity of drug testing programs within various sectors.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Santee, SC, and across the country, our testing sites offer accessible and hassle-free hair follicle testing. With centers Nationwide, individuals and employers enjoy the convenience and efficiency these locations provide.

Local and national presence streamlines the testing process, ensuring easy access for tests, supporting prompt and stress-free drug detection services for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Santee, SC is both straightforward and private, ensuring client comfort and confidentiality from ordering to receiving results.

The streamlined approach to testing dispels privacy concerns, with a secure handling protocol that respects sensitive information, promoting a user-friendly experience for every individual involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing with rapid turnaround, Santee, SC businesses of all sizes benefit from our hair follicle testing. Competitive rates and swift results ensure economy and efficiency.

Fast processing times deliver excellent value, allowing companies to maintain high standards of safety and assurance without straining budgets, making premium service accessible for any organization.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Santee, SC offers rapid and accurate results, making it a reliable choice for substance detection. The precision in identifying drug use is unparalleled, providing a true reflection of a person's drug history.

Quickly pinpointing drugs, the speed of processing hair samples ensures timely information. This efficiency supports decision-making, essential for employers and legal entities needing fast and dependable results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Santee, SC gain peace of mind and compliance when employing hair follicle testing. This method underpins drug-free workplace policies, enhancing safety and minimizing legal liabilities.

Hair testing aids in adhering to regulations, thus reducing risks associated with substance use. By ensuring compliance, employers foster trust and security within their workforce.

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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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