Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Southern Gateway, VA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can capture a comprehensive history of these substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair strands. When sampled near the scalp, it can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. This method is straightforward to collect, resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

An ideal specimen for screening and confirmation is a 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yielding approximately 100mg of hair. For EtG tests, add-ons, and panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is preferred. It is advisable to weigh the hair using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, a comparable amount of body hair can be gathered. When referring to head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a specimen in a laboratory system, which includes confirming proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entries outside of an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial, cost-efficient check for drugs of abuse, allowing for the exclusion of drug usage in most samples. However, positive results from the Screening phase must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples with presumptive positive results in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

Samples with positive presumptive results proceed to the Extraction phase, where additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen and prepared. Drug extraction from hair is conducted at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. All presumptive positive specimens are cleansed prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use spanning up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with shorter durations.
• Low likelihood of deception: The complexity of deceiving a hair drug test results in more reliable findings.
• Traces long-term usage: It can illustrate a trend of drug use over time, as opposed to merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier in comparison to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Variables such as hair color and growth rate may impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often 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 Southern Gateway, VA, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy. Its ability to trace substance use over an extended duration makes it a favored choice. With high reliability, hair testing ensures accurate results, which are crucial for maintaining safety and compliance in various sectors.

Extended Detection Window

One of the significant advantages of hair follicle testing in Southern Gateway, VA is its extensive detection window, reaching up to 90 days. This gives employers a full view of a person's substance use history over time, offering a comprehensive profile that can inform decisions more effectively compared to shorter-term tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Southern Gateway, VA significantly minimizes the chances of sample tampering. The test's robust and secure methodology ensures that results remain trustworthy and valid, making it nearly impossible for individuals to manipulate their results through conventional means of sample adulteration.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenience with numerous testing locations across the nation, including Southern Gateway, VA. This ensures easy access to fast and efficient drug testing services. Clients in any city can quickly locate a center close by, thus streamlining the whole process for individuals and companies.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Southern Gateway, VA, the drug testing process through our services remains straightforward and private. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, each step is designed to respect confidentiality. This approach keeps the user informed and secure, addressing any privacy concerns efficiently.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Southern Gateway, VA residents and businesses benefit from our affordable pricing and swift turnaround times. This competitive pricing model ensures excellent value for money, catering to organizations of all sizes aiming to maintain compliance without a significant financial burden.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug testing method stands out in Southern Gateway, VA for its incredible accuracy and speed. It pinpoints substance use with unmatched precision, providing results that employers and individuals can trust. This reliable process ensures that detection is thorough and swift, thereby bolstering confidence in the results provided.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Southern Gateway, VA find peace of mind with hair follicle testing due to its ability to ensure compliance with drug-free workplace initiatives. This testing method not only reduces legal risks but also enhances safety protocols, creating a more secure and productive work environment for all employees.

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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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