Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bethany, WV

What it is, How it works

Hair examination has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair retains long-term evidence of alcohol and other drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the growing hair strand fibers. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, tricky to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in width to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is suggested. It's advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair can be taken. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key steps in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample in a lab system. This process checks if the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishes any further data entry not provided by an e-chain of custody system.

Screening is a rapid initial test for drug abuse. While it is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Any samples that test presumptively positive require a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. This step involves extracting drugs from hair at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screens the most challenging procedures to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screen outcomes is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that test presumptively positive are cleaned before confirmation as needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a limited detection range.
• Hard to falsify: Hair drug tests are tough to manipulate, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: Provides a usage pattern over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Constraints:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the analysis pertains to the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bethany, WV
Hair follicle tests offer several advantages over traditional urine tests, showcasing superior detection accuracy and reliability. With a broader window for detecting drug use, hair testing provides a comprehensive analysis, setting a new standard in screening efficacy.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bethany, WV
Hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days, presenting employers with an extensive review of an individual's substance use history. This advantage is critical in maintaining a clear understanding of employee habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bethany, WV
The design of hair follicle tests inherently reduces the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring that the obtained results are both reliable and credible, leaving no room for doubt.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bethany, WV
With testing centers available nationwide, accessing our drug testing services is convenient and hassle-free, offering both speed and ease to individuals and businesses.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bethany, WV
Ordering, undergoing, and receiving results from hair follicle tests is structured to be straightforward and confidential, prioritizing privacy and convenience for users during the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bethany, WV
Our competitive pricing and swift result times emphasize the value we deliver, ensuring businesses of various sizes benefit from cost-effective, reliable testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bethany, WV
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests are unmatched, offering swift and precise identification of substance usage. This testing method excels in accuracy, ensuring reliable screening outcomes for employers and individuals alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bethany, WV
Employing hair follicle testing ensures that workplace drug policies are upheld, mitigating legal risks and enhancing safety. This creates a harmonious and secure environment for businesses to thrive.

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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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