Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Myrtle, WV

What it is, How it works

The efficacy of hair testing in identifying drug and alcohol consumption has become recognized. Hair captures long-term drug and alcohol histories by embedding biomarkers within the strand's fibers. When gathered near the scalp, it offers approximately a 90-day window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Collection of hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of around 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's width) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, optimal for screening and confirming tests. For EtG, additional tests, or panels beyond 10, a recommendation of 150mg is given. It's advisable to weigh samples using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types, including facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The drug test result process in the lab includes four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the phase where samples are initially processed into the lab's system. This step verifies proper sealing and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs an initial check for drugs of abuse. It's a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use for most samples, but a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Prospective positives in Screening necessitate secondary verification.

For samples flagged as positive during Screening, extra hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are retrieved from hair at much lower concentrations than with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a particularly challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All initially positive samples are cleaned as necessary before confirmation. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter windows.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is nearly impossible, thus ensuring more reliable outcomes.
• Chronological data: It can reveal usage patterns over time, rather than just recent intake.

Limitations:

• No recent use detection: Drugs take about 5-7 days to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair tests usually cost more compared to other testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis pertains to the hair strand itself, not to the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Outperforms Urine Testing in Myrtle, WV
Hair follicle tests stand out against traditional urine tests by offering enhanced detection capabilities. Their ability to detect drugs over 90 days gives them a clear advantage. While urine tests are limited to capturing recent drug use, hair tests ensure a more comprehensive and reliable analysis.

The accuracy and reliability of hair tests make them a preferred choice in environments demanding infallible results, reducing false negatives and providing an indispensable tool against drug misuse.

Extended Detection Window

Unmatched Detection Period in Myrtle, WV
Hair follicle testing captures drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days, perfect for employers seeking clarity on an applicant or employee's past. This broad window offers employers an informed view of potential hires and prevents habitual users from slipping through undetected.

It allows a thorough assessment over time that urine tests simply can't match, ensuring a dedicated stance against long-term substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Resilient to Tampering: Hair Testing in Myrtle, WV
The hair follicle method inherently resists attempts to alter or tamper with results. Unlike urine samples that are susceptible to dilution and substitution, hair samples render manipulation nearly impossible, ensuring trustworthy outcomes.

This integrity is crucial in maintaining the authenticity of drug testing, forcing those tested to face results honestly and without unfair advantage.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Access Across Myrtle, WV and Beyond
Our nationwide network of testing facilities allows effortless access to drug testing services. This accessibility ensures that testing is a straightforward, uncomplicated process wherever you are, including local locations in Myrtle, WV.

No matter where businesses or individuals are based, quick and hassle-free testing is within reach, keeping processes smooth and efficient.

Simple, Confidential Process

Seamless and Discreet Testing Experience in Myrtle, WV
The process from test ordering to receiving results is designed for simplicity and confidentiality. At every juncture, we prioritize privacy, ensuring clients can trust in the discretion of our services. Efficient procedures mean straightforward steps and timely outcomes.

This user-centric approach removes the stress and complexity often tied to drug testing, offering a reassuringly private experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Efficiency and Rapid Results in Myrtle, WV
Competitive pricing structures place us ahead, delivering prompt results without inflating costs. Our commitment to top-quality services combines value and speed, ensuring that businesses of all sizes achieve their objectives economically and efficiently.

This cost-conscious approach ensures testing services deliver return on investment through rapid and reliable results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Achieving Fast, Precise, and Dependable Results in Myrtle, WV
Accuracy and speed define hair follicle drug tests. These tests swiftly deliver precise results on substance use. By focusing on minute traces in hair strands penetrated by drugs, they provide an accurate account of past use. The process ensures reliability without compromising speed, offering a dependably quick outcome.

Employers and individuals benefit from the high precision of hair testing, which reliably identifies drug history. It translates into trusted outcomes and informed decisions wherever it's utilized.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Assuring Compliance and Security for Employers in Myrtle, WV
By adopting hair follicle testing, employers adhere strictly to drug-free policies, mitigating legal challenges and enhancing safety standards. This robust testing methodology fosters a secure and compliant environment.

The confidence gained from accurate and tamper-resistant results gives employers the peace of mind they need, reinforcing their commitment to a safe workplace.

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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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