Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ansley, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Hair captures a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeframe of up to around 3 months for drug and alcohol use. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches consisting of about 200 strands (roughly #2 pencil-sized) closest to the scalp yields 100mg, ideal for initial and confirmed testing. For EtG, additional screenings, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unattainable, a similar quantity of body hair is acceptable. Discussions of head hair refer solely to scalp hair, while body hair pertains to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Lab processing of a drug test result encompasses four core steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes preliminary processing into the lab's system. This step verifies the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data that an electronic chain of custody doesn't cover.

Screening consists of a preliminary drug abuse check. It serves as an economical way to dismiss drug use in most samples, but any positive results need further confirmation to be legally viable. Samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening demand a second confirmation.

For presumptive positives in Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. This phase extracts drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence making hair drug screening the most complex method to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening involves GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: It can detect drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty to cheat: It is very hard to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Provides historical data: Offers insights into a pattern of drug usage over time, beyond recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It typically takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Generally, hair drug tests are pricier than other testing methods.
• Variations in results: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests," the procedure analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Ansley, AL outshines urine tests for various reasons. Its reliable detection reveals substance use over a significantly extended period, ensuring enhanced accuracy.
Urine tests, limited by shorter detection windows, fall behind. Hair tests offer unmatched efficacy even for minimal or infrequent consumption.

• Longer detection span.
• Stronger reliability and resistance to tampering.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing sets it apart in Ansley, AL. Unlike traditional methods, hair tests offer insights into drug use over a 90-day period.
This provides employers a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s substance history, crucial for making informed decisions.

• Coverage of a 90-day period.
• Insightful substance abuse history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Ansley, AL, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing offers unmatched reliability. Unlike urine tests, this method significantly curtails sample adulteration, ensuring test results remain unaltered and trustworthy.

• Reduced tampering probabilities.
• Provides authentic, unquestionable outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient locations in Ansley, AL and nationwide, our testing centers ensure quick, hassle-free access. Accredited Drug Testing offers an extensive network, simplifying the process for individuals and businesses alike.

• Wide-ranging local and national availability.
• Ease of access ensures timely testing and results.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Ansley, AL, our testing process is designed to be straightforward and confidential. Ordering, undertaking, and accessing results is streamlined, guaranteeing ease of use and privacy for clients.

• User-friendly processes.
• Priority on confidentiality preserves client comfort.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Ansley, AL offers competitive pricing models paired with fast turnaround times. This combination ensures cost-effectiveness and rapid service, granting companies confidence and value for their investments.

• Competitive pricing options available.
• Swift turnaround promises immediate answers.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Ansley, AL, the precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug testing are unparalleled. These tests offer high accuracy in identifying substance use, surpassing traditional methods in reliability.
The meticulous procedures ensure results are swift yet thorough, guaranteeing that each test captures truthful data.

• Enhanced accuracy reduces false positives.
• Quick results keep processes efficient and impactful.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing in Ansley, AL fosters compliance and peace of mind for employers. It aligns perfectly with workplace drug-free policies, minimizing legal risks and fortifying workplace safety.

• Enhances compliance with policies.
• Promotes a safe and hazard-free environment.

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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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