Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Libertyville, AL

What it is, How it works

Recognized as a crucial utility, hair testing serves in identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair strand captures biomarkers within its fibers, offering a prolonged overview of substance use. When sourced near the scalp, hair reveals an estimated 3-month timeline for detecting alcohol and drugs. Its collection is straightforward, less prone to tampering, and hassle-free to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches comprising around 200 hair strands (approximating the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, deemed ideal for screening and validation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or beyond 10-panel tests, a specimen of 150mg is advised. It's best to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equal amount of body hair can be utilized. When mentioning head hair, it specifically means scalp hair; body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in laboratory processing of drug test results include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample enters the laboratory's system for initial processing. This process ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and accommodates any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic custody chain.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for substance misuse. Though cost-effective in eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples flagged as presumptively positive during Screening require further confirmation.

Should a sample appear positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for Extraction. In this phase, substances are retrieved from hair at significantly reduced concentration levels compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), attributing to the complexity of hair drug screening.

To confirm any positive screening results, methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are utilized. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation when necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation, as well as the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which feature a shorter period.
• Resistant to deception: Cheating a hair drug test is notably challenging, leading to more reliable outcomes.
• Chronicles usage patterns: Offers an assessment of drug use trends over time, not merely recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier compared to other testing approaches.
• Result inconsistencies: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly dubbed as "hair follicle tests", the examination is of the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Libertyville, AL

• Hair testing offers a longer detection period than urine tests.
• Employers find hair testing more reliable for identifying substance abuse.
• The superior accuracy makes hair tests a preferred choice in critical situations.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Libertyville, AL

• Hair follicle tests detect drug use history up to 90 days.
• This lengthy window offers employers a thorough view of potential employees' substance habits.
• Provides a robust framework for assessing long-term drug use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Libertyville, AL

• Hair follicle tests discourage sample tampering.
• The integrity of results is maintained through a tamper-resistant process.
• Ensures credibility and reliability in drug testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Libertyville, AL

• Our widespread testing centers provide easy access.
• Quick and hassle-free service in Libertyville and beyond.
• Ensures testing is accessible and efficient for all.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Libertyville, AL

• Ordering and taking hair follicle tests is straightforward.
• The process ensures privacy and confidentiality at each step.
• Easy access to results helps address privacy concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Libertyville, AL

• Our pricing models are competitive and transparent.
• Fast test results ensure timely decision-making for companies.
• Offering excellent value to organizations of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Libertyville, AL

• Hair follicle drug tests provide swift and precise information.
• Their high accuracy ensures confidence in detecting substance use.
• Employers benefit from quick and dependable result delivery, maintaining workplace integrity.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Libertyville, AL

• Hair follicle testing supports drug-free workplace policies.
• Reduces legal risks while ensuring employee safety.
• Employers gain peace of mind by adhering to compliance standards.

Drug Testing Near Libertyville, AL

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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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