Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Smithfield, VA

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a chronicled record of alcohol and drug usage by capturing biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. When hair is collected close to the scalp, it can offer a detection window of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches and comprising approximately 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp produces 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for both screening and confirming tests. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weight of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. The term "head hair" specifically pertains to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Laboratory processing of drug test outcomes encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first phase where a sample is processed into the laboratory's system. It involves confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data that was not entered via an electronic chain of custody.

Screening entails a preliminary swift assessment for substance abuse. Though screening is a budget-friendly method to exclude drug usage for most samples, those that yield a positive result must be confirmed for courtroom validity. A secondary confirmation is mandatory for all samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening.

When a sample is thought to be positive in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original specimen to prepare for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are retrieved from hair at a significantly reduced concentration relative to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The end-to-end laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing provides the ability to identify drug usage for 90 days, in contrast to the shorter windows of urine tests.
• Lack of manipulation: Hair drug tests are notably difficult to falsify, enhancing result reliability.
• Offers historical insights: It enables a chronology of drug usage patterns over time rather than just recent actions.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent consumption: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become detectable in hair strands.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to other testing mechanisms.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Despite the common reference to "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Choose Hair Follicle Testing Over Urine Tests in Smithfield, VA?
The hair follicle method provides superior detection capabilities taken from vehicles, making it a preferred option over conventional urine tests for several reasons.

Hair tests not only detect a longer history of substance use but also maintain higher integrity due to the non-invasive aspect of the sample collection, which is observed, thus ensuring authenticity and reducing cheating possibilities.

• Extend the detection of drug use to 90 days.
• Observe strict sample procedure, reducing tampering.
• Results are not easily manipulated or adulterated.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window
Smithfield, VA, employers gain a strategic advantage with hair follicle testing due to its extensive detection timeline of up to 90 days. This broader lookout offers a more comprehensive assessment of an individual's substance use history.

By analyzing the hair, potential employers can trace a pattern of drug use or abstinence, facilitating informed choices on hiring and maintaining a drug-free environment effectively.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Smithfield, VA’s robust hair follicle test procedure drastically minimizes the risk of adulteration. Being almost impossible to tamper with, hair samples exhibit greater reliability over traditional methods.

These tests undergo stringent observed sampling processes, ensuring that the results remain trustworthy and valid, thus lending peace of mind to administrators seeking accurate substance use verification.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations in Smithfield, VA
Our extensive network allows easy and straightforward access to hair follicle testing facilities nationwide, ensuring that residents of Smithfield have nearby locations for all testing needs.

With various centers across major cities, scheduling and conducting tests become hassle-free, serving both individual and business requirements efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Smithfield, VA is both straightforward and confidential. From ordering the test to gathering samples, each step respects privacy, guaranteeing personal information is secured.

Key Features:

• Simplified booking.
• Privacy across all procedures.
• Easy-to-interpret, confidential results delivery.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Smithfield, VA, Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing on hair follicle drug tests with speedy turnaround times, providing outstanding value to businesses of any size.

The combination of affordability and efficiency ensures companies can confidently implement a robust drug-testing program without compromising their financial resources or time.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Smithfield, VA, hair follicle testing stands out for its remarkable precision and quick results. The accuracy in detecting even trace amounts of substances offers substantial reliability, ensuring individuals and organizations receive trustworthy information.

The speed of obtaining results with hair follicle tests is unmatched. This efficiency not only serves individuals in need of answers swiftly but also aids businesses that require timely information to make safer, informed decisions.

Here are key reasons for choosing hair follicle testing:

• Fast and efficient.
• High accuracy levels.
• Reliable outcome assurance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Smithfield, VA find peace of mind through hair follicle testing, as it aligns with workplace drug policies, ensuring a safe, compliant working environment.

This reliable method minimizes legal risks while promoting corporate safety, by demonstrating zero-tolerance drug policies through thorough and effective drug use screenings.

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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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