Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Keener, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is widely recognized as a robust method for identifying the presence of drugs and alcohol use. Hair strands serve as a comprehensive record of substance usage by embedding biomarkers within the hair's growing fibers. When cut near the scalp, hair allows up to a three-month timeframe to detect alcohol and various drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for testing and validation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or more than 10-panel tests, 150mg of hair is suggested. It's advisable to use a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (like facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

Lab processing of drug test samples follows four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase of introducing a sample into a lab's system, ensuring the sample's seal and shipment are correct, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data not included in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs a preliminary drug abuse assessment. While it's a cost-effective measure for excluding drug use in most samples, court-admissible results require that positive screenings be verified. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening need a confirmation test.

For samples identified as presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS confirms any positive screening outcomes. Prior to confirmation, presumptive positive samples are washed as needed. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is carried out under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Provides historical data: It can demonstrate a drug use pattern over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests generally cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Keener, AL, offers several advantages over traditional urine tests. The main benefit is its superior detection accuracy and reliability, which provides a clearer understanding of an individual's drug history. Employers favor hair tests for their robust detection capabilities and the decreased likelihood of tampering.

The expansive detection window of hair testing surpasses that of urine tests, offering a longer period to identify drug use effectively. These strengths make hair follicle testing a wise choice for employers aiming for thorough drug screening.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Keener, AL benefit from hair follicle testing's extended detection window, which reaches up to 90 days. By identifying drug use over a prolonged period, employers gain a broader understanding of an employee's substance history.

This comprehensive view aids in making informed hiring and management decisions, allowing a more thorough assessment of a candidate or employee's drug use timeline compared to traditional methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Keener, AL stands out for its tamper-resistant nature, significantly reducing the risk of adulteration. This method ensures that sample tampering is almost impossible, delivering reliable and trustworthy results.

Employers can depend on the authenticity of hair testing outcomes, minimizing concerns of manipulated tests, and enhancing confidence in the testing process's integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations nationwide, including Keener, AL, ensuring easy access for individuals and employers. These centers provide a hassle-free experience for those seeking reliable drug testing services.

With local availability and swift service, Accredited Drug Testing simplifies the process, making drug testing readily accessible to meet diverse needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Keener, AL, ordering, taking, and receiving results from a hair follicle drug test is a straightforward and confidential experience. This secure process addresses privacy concerns, providing ease of use for all involved.

The simplicity of the procedure enhances client confidence in the testing services, ensuring accurate results while maintaining privacy and convenience throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Keener, AL offers competitive pricing structures, making hair follicle testing an affordable choice for companies. Quick turnaround times further enhance the value proposition, ensuring prompt delivery of results.

This combination of cost-effectiveness and efficiency supports businesses of all sizes in maintaining their drug-free policies without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Keener, AL, hair follicle drug tests deliver fast and precise outcomes. These tests stand out due to their high accuracy in identifying substance use, ensuring quick and reliable results for users. The method's precision enhances trust in results, making it a preferred choice for those needing definitive substance identification.

Quick turnaround times in hair testing procedures enable fast decision-making for employers, reinforcing their efficiency in handling testing needs. These features make hair testing a superior choice in Keener, AL.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Keener, AL, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks and promoting a safe work environment. This testing method offers peace of mind by achieving compliance with established protocols.

Through reliable testing procedures, businesses can maintain a drug-free workplace, supporting overall employee safety and satisfaction.

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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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