Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brookhaven, WV

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has become recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged history of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When the hair sample is collected near the scalp, it can offer a nearly three-month detection period for both alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding ten, a sample size of 150mg is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not accessible, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" pertains solely to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

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

During Accessioning, a sample undergoes initial processing into the laboratory's system. This step includes checking that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be legally valid. Any samples indicating a presumptive positive result in Screening require a further confirmation.

If Screening suggests a presumptive positive, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are removed from the hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening presents a greater challenge.

The Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples identified as presumptive positive undergo a washing prior to confirmation when necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty in manipulation: It is very challenging to cheat a hair drug test, thus enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Historical insight: It provides a profile of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Cost implications: Hair drug tests are generally pricier compared to other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual disparities in hair growth can affect drug metabolite concentration within the hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis itself focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Brookhaven, WV sees an edge for hair follicle tests over traditional urine tests. While urine tests are commonplace, hair testing offers superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests detect drug use over a prolonged period, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of substance use history. These factors highlight why hair testing is preferred for in-depth evaluations.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Brookhaven, WV spans up to 90 days, outperforming urine tests. This gives employers a full scope of an individual’s substance use history. Such comprehensive insights enable informed decisions regarding potential hires or current employees, providing clarity and enhancing workplace integrity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Brookhaven, WV, the unique approach of hair follicle tests minimizes the chance of sample tampering. Due to the nature of the test, adulterating samples is challenging, ensuring result integrity. This solidifies employer confidence in drug testing outcomes, proving to be a vital component in maintaining fair testing practices and emphasizing validity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers throughout West Virginia, including Brookhaven, locating a suitable hair follicle testing site is convenient. Our widespread presence ensures service access is quick and hassle-free, enabling individuals and businesses to participate in testing without extensive travel or delay, supporting seamless integration into routine practices.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Brookhaven, WV is straightforward and confidential. From ordering to testing and receiving results, privacy concerns are addressed efficiently. Our approach ensures ease of use and steadfast confidentiality, making the experience comfortable for all clients while maintaining the integrity of personal data.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Brookhaven, WV benefits from affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in hair follicle testing. Our competitive pricing models cater to businesses of all sizes, ensuring excellent value. This cost-effectiveness, combined with swift processing, offers peace of mind and enhances satisfaction with the testing process.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Brookhaven, WV, hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and speed. They are highly proficient in identifying substance use, giving professionals confidence in their reliability. Swift turnarounds ensure results are quickly available, setting a standard for thorough drug screening processes. This refined accuracy assists employers in maintaining clear and comprehensive records.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Brookhaven, WV find compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. The adherence to drug-free policies ensures reduced legal exposure and fosters a safer work environment. Such rigorous testing methods minimize risks, aligning with regulatory requirements and promoting confidence in workplace standards.

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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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