Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Seven Mile Ford, VA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When hair is collected near the scalp, it can offer up to about a 3-month detection period for alcohol and substances. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair specimen is suggested. We advise weighing the hair sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair can be utilized. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for obtaining a drug test result involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial sample handling within a laboratory’s system. This process verifies proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary fast check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical means to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive result must undergo confirmation to be permissible in court. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample returns a presumptively positive result in Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial specimen for preparation in Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), establishing hair drug screening as one of the most complex methodologies to execute.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques are used to confirm any positive Screening results. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning through to Confirmation adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection timeframe.
• Challenging to deceive: It is extremely difficult to manipulate a hair drug test, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a record of drug use over time instead of just recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to identify recent usage: Drugs typically take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests often cost more than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the actual test examines the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Seven Mile Ford, VA, hair testing stands superior to urine testing. Hair follicle tests offer better detection accuracy, covering longer usage periods. The reliability of this method surpasses traditional urine tests, providing a clearer picture of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Seven Mile Ford, VA, uncovers drug use history for up to 90 days. This extended timeline provides employers with comprehensive insights into the substance habits of their employees or applicants.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Seven Mile Ford, VA, are a tamper-resistant testing method. This reduces the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring that results are reliable and unquestionable, which strengthens the overall trust in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing locations, including in Seven Mile Ford, VA, accessing drug testing services is quick and hassle-free. Our widespread centers allow easy testing for individuals across different regions.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Seven Mile Ford, VA, is simple and confidential, from ordering to taking the test and receiving results. This ensures privacy and ease, addressing any concerns individuals might have about the testing procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Seven Mile Ford, VA, we offer great value for businesses. Our competitive pricing structures cater to companies of all sizes, delivering peace of mind with swift results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Seven Mile Ford, VA, guarantees fast and accurate results. It offers precise detection, delivering reliable information about substance use. Hair analysis is highly capable of identifying drug consumption, ensuring trust in the outcomes presented.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Seven Mile Ford, VA, hair follicle testing enhances compliance and provides peace of mind. It ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks, and bolstering workplace safety.

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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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