Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pembroke, VA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has developed into a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair, hair reveals a broad history of alcohol and other drugs. When cut near the scalp, hair offers a detection timeframe of up to three months for both alcohol and other drugs. The sample collection process is straightforward, making it challenging to tamper with and easy to send.

A 1.5-inch section containing roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields about 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For testing like EtG, any additional tests, or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It's suggested to weigh the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, it specifically signifies scalp hair. Body hair includes all the other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test result processing in a laboratory includes four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In Accessioning, the sample is processed into the lab’s system. This phase ensures the sample has been properly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry that an electronic chain of custody system did not cover.

Screening offers an initial swift assessment for drug presence. Although Screening is an economical way to exclude drug usage in most samples, positive screens must pass confirmation to hold up in legal settings. Samples that test positive during Screening require further confirmation.

A sample that shows presumptive positivity during Screening involves taking more hair from the initial collection and readying it for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from the hair at substantially lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples undergo cleansing as needed. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair licensing and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, while urine tests present a shorter detection period.
• Hard to defeat: Cheating a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring the results are more precise.
• Reveals usage patterns: It provides historical insight into drug use over time, unlike tests that only detect recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of spotting recent use: It usually takes around 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Price: Hair drug testing tends to be dearer than other drug testing techniques.
• Diversity in outcomes: Elements such as hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite being commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing drug testing methods in Pembroke, VA, hair follicle tests clearly outperform urine tests. The primary upside of hair testing is its significant detection range, offering clarity on substance history that urine tests might miss.

Urine tests, although useful in pinpointing recent substance intake, can't match hair tests in reliability and comprehensive detection. This is crucial for employers seeking consistent performance evaluations and assessments.

Extended Detection Window

One key advantage of hair follicle testing in Pembroke, VA, is its prolonged detection window. Unlike other tests, it detects drugs consumed up to 90 days prior, giving employers a profound understanding of a person's substance utilization history.

This extended window enables a more informed and comprehensive appraisal of a current or potential employee's behavior. Consequently, it empowers organizations to foster a safer and more responsible work atmosphere.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Pembroke, VA, hair follicle testing effectively minimizes sample tampering risk. Collecting hair samples in a controlled environment ensures test integrity and consistent outcomes.

Reduced adulteration means reliable insights into an individual's drug history. Employers are assured of the authenticity of results, bolstering confidence in the process and maintaining the integrity of substance testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing's convenience is showcased by its nationwide centers, with services available locally in Pembroke, VA. Our strategic locations ensure easy, swift, and seamless access to necessary testing.

Providing endless testing solutions to clients means minimizing the hassles often associated with booking and undergoing tests. Visit our Pembroke facility to experience our streamlined approach firsthand, right in the heart of the community.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Pembroke, VA, is crafted for simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering tests to receiving results, each step is user-friendly, protecting patient privacy and ensuring discretion.

Confidential testing gets results quickly and securely, offering peace of mind to all our clients. Our commitment to an uncomplicated methodology empowers individuals to easily navigate their personal and professional needs.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Pembroke, VA, our competitive pricing model ensures affordable access to high-quality hair follicle drug tests. This provides exceptional value, meeting the budget-savvy demands of businesses.

Our expertise grants fast results, maintaining efficiency and excellence. Companies, irrespective of size, benefit from quick turnaround times and reliable results, instilling confidence in their decisions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Pembroke, VA, the hair follicle drug test stands out for delivering fast and accurate results. This method ensures users get precise data, detecting substance presence with higher precision than other test types. This accuracy ensures reliable data.

Timely results are crucial, especially in high-stakes scenarios. Hair testing offers a swift turnaround, crucial for businesses needing quick and dependable answers. This speed doesn't compromise the test's reliability, making hair testing a top choice in Pembroke.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle drug testing in Pembroke, VA, assures employers of compliance with drug-free regulations, enhancing workplace safety. Tests detect prolonged drug use, reflecting a commitment to maintaining a clean environment.

Companies face fewer legal challenges with proven results from hair tests. This method fortifies the employer's stance on zero tolerance, fostering trust and assurance for all stakeholders involved.

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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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