Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Chase, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a lasting record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair shaft. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate three-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional assessments, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advised. It's advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair denotes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in the lab process of evaluating a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a specimen in the lab’s system. This involves checking that the sample was securely sealed and dispatched correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid test for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Any samples deemed presumptively positive in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, more hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated 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 use for up to 90 days, surpassing urine tests which have a shorter detection range.
• Difficult to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing the result's accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal a drug use pattern over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Can't detect recent use: Drugs require about 5-7 days before becoming detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite being commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Outperforms Urine Tests in Chase, AL - Hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests with its superior detection capabilities. Able to identify long-term drug use, hair tests offer unparalleled accuracy and reliability, making them the go-to choice for many employers and authorities concerned with detecting drug abuse effectively.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Chase, AL - Hair follicle testing provides an incredible advantage with its ability to detect drug use over an extended period of up to 90 days. This wide detection window allows employers to gain a thorough understanding of an individual's substance use history, enabling informed decisions when assessing applicants or employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing in Chase, AL - With hair follicle testing, the risk of sample tampering is significantly minimized. This method of drug testing ensures that results remain reliable and unquestionable, offering peace of mind to employers who need accurate and honest assessments of drug use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations in Chase, AL - Our broad network of testing centers provides easy and convenient access to drug testing services. With locations nationwide, including Chase, Alabama, individuals and companies benefit from quick and straightforward service access, minimizing inconvenience and maximizing efficiency.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple and Confidential Process in Chase, AL - The process for ordering, conducting, and obtaining results from hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential. Our procedures respect privacy and ease of use, ensuring that clients feel comfortable and secure throughout the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Chase, AL - We offer competitive pricing and quick turnaround times for hair follicle tests, providing excellent value for businesses. Regardless of company size, our services deliver both affordability and swift results, ensuring confidence and satisfaction for all clients.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Accurate Detection in Chase, AL - The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests are unmatched. These tests offer high accuracy in identifying substance use, providing reliable insights into usage patterns. When time and precision matter, hair testing delivers prompt and conclusive results, supporting quick decision-making processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind in Chase, AL - Hair follicle testing aids employers in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By integrating this testing method, organizations can reduce legal risks, promote a safe working environment, and ensure peace of mind across all levels of the workplace hierarchy.

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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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