Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Chastang, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of substances by capturing biomarkers within its fibers. By collecting hair near the scalp, it can reveal a substance use history spanning up to three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with about 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) is optimal, providing 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for testing. For EtG, additional tests, or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. We advise weighing the hair on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. References to head hair specifically pertain to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in laboratory drug test processing include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample initially enters the lab system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs a preliminary examination for drugs of abuse. While it is a cost-effective method for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive result in Screening requires confirmation to be legally acceptable. Any samples that test positive in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

In cases where Screening results are positive, additional hair is taken from the initial sample to prepare it for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from the hair at a much lower concentration than other methods like urine or oral fluid, which makes hair drug testing the most challenging technique to execute.

Positive results from Screening are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can track drug use for up to 90 days, while urine tests have a much shorter duration.
• Hard to evade: The likelihood of manipulating a hair drug test is very low, ensuring more reliable outcomes.
• Historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of substance use over time, unlike tests that detect only recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent consumption: It typically takes 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is often pricier than other testing options.
• Result variability: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth rates may influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests," these actually evaluate the hair shaft, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Chastang, AL, hair follicle tests offer clear advantages over traditional urine tests:

• Extended detection periods for substance use.
• Enhanced reliability and result trustworthiness.

Extended Detection Window

One significant benefit of hair follicle testing in Chastang, AL, is its extended detection window:

• Tracks substance use for up to 90 days.
• Gives employers a broad view of drug habits over time.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Chastang, AL, prides itself on being a tamper-resistant method:

• Minimizes the risk of sample adulteration.
• Ensures the integrity and validity of test results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing has nationwide testing facilities, including in Chastang, AL:

• Ensures convenient access to testing services.
• Allows for quick and easy testing processes.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Chastang, AL, is designed to be simple and confidential:

• Ordering and receiving results are straightforward.
• Privacy concerns are addressed, ensuring stress-free testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle tests in Chastang, AL, offer affordable pricing and fast service:

• Competitive rates that suit different company sizes.
• Quick turnaround provides value and peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The efficacy and speed of hair follicle drug testing in Chastang, AL, are unmatched. The process guarantees precision and quick delivery of results, making it a preferred choice.

• High accuracy in identifying drug use.
• Quick turnaround for reliable testing outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Chastang, AL, hair follicle tests ensure compliance with drug-free policies:

• Reduces legal concerns and enhances safety in the workplace.
• Provides peace of mind by maintaining a safe work 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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