Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Morrison Crossroads, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage, offering long-term insights by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair strands. When collected near the scalp, hair can provide up to about a 90-day window for detecting alcohol and drugs. It’s easy to collect, fairly resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 strands (about the size of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp yields 100mg, the ideal amount for examination and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or more than 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair isn’t accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. "Head hair" refers to scalp hair exclusively, whereas "body hair" refers to all other types (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory’s system, which includes ensuring the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any additional data entry required beyond what an electronic chain of custody system provides.

Screening is a preliminary check for drug abuse; it's economical for eliminating drug usage in most samples. However, a positive result in Screening must undergo further confirmation for it to be court-viable. Samples indicating a presumptive positive during Screening need secondary confirmation.

Should a sample appear presumptively positive in Screening, extra hair is extracted from the initial specimen for Preparation for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at a lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening considerably challenging.

Confirmation of any positive result from the screening is undertaken using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples showing presumptive positive are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 quality standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter durations.
• Cheating is tough: Cheating is incredibly difficult in a hair drug test, ensuring greater accuracy in results.
• Provides usage pattern: It reveals a pattern of drug use across time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent usage detection: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are pricier compared to other methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Variations like individual hair color and growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the test analyzes the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Morrison Crossroads, AL
Hair follicle drug tests offer enhanced detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. Unlike urine tests that detect drugs in the system for only a few days, hair tests can trace substance use over a much longer period, each time providing a more exact history of an individual's drug habits.

The reliability of hair testing is beneficial for employers, as it detects drug use that urine tests might miss. This makes it a more insightful option for anyone needing a comprehensive understanding of an applicant or employee's recent substance use behavior.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Morrison Crossroads, AL
One of the most compelling benefits of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window, which can reveal drug use for up to 90 days. This extended perspective offers employers substantial insight into both past and recent substance use of potential hires or current employees.

By utilizing hair testing, businesses in Morrison Crossroads gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance use history. This enduring detection window means that employers are better equipped with the necessary information to make informed decisions about their workforce.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Morrison Crossroads, AL
Hair follicle tests are unique in their ability to minimize the risk of sample tampering. With the capacity to provide reliable and unquestionable results, this testing method ensures that the samples remain uncontaminated and unchanged.

Employers seeking a foolproof solution for drug testing will find hair follicle tests effective. This method reassures them of receiving accurate data, as it is very difficult for individuals to manipulate the sample, compared to other forms of drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Morrison Crossroads, AL
With Accredited Drug Testing’s extensive network of testing locations, obtaining a hair drug test in Morrison Crossroads is straightforward. Our centers are readily accessible, ensuring that the testing process is quick and hassle-free.

The availability of local and nationwide sites combines the benefits of accessibility and convenience, making it simpler for businesses and individuals to engage in drug screening without unnecessary delays or obstacles.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Morrison Crossroads, AL
Our hair follicle testing process is designed to be both simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving test results is conducted in a manner that addresses privacy concerns and guarantees ease of use.

This ensures that everyone involved in the testing procedure is comfortable and secure knowing that their information is handled with the utmost confidentiality, thus maintaining personal privacy throughout the entire process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Morrison Crossroads, AL
Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing for hair follicle tests, ensuring affordability for companies of all sizes. This, paired with our swift turnaround times, provides great value and confidence to businesses needing quick and dependable testing results.

Our pricing models, designed to be budget-friendly, mean that businesses can maintain their drug screening practices without financial strain, while still benefiting from fast and accurate test result processing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Morrison Crossroads, AL
Hair follicle drug tests are known for their precision and quick results. They offer high accuracy in detecting substance use, providing reliable outcomes swiftly. This method’s efficiency helps ensure that employers can make informed decisions promptly.

With the ability to deliver dependable results quickly, hair testing stands out as a superior choice for those requiring less turnaround time without sacrificing accuracy. Employers in Morrison Crossroads can depend on these tests to receive fast and trustworthy information about substance use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Morrison Crossroads, AL
By opting for hair follicle testing, employers can uphold compliance with workplace drug-free policies, which in turn cuts down on potential legal risks and enhances overall workplace safety.

This testing approach not only solidifies compliance but also fosters a more secure working environment, granting peace of mind to employers knowing they are taking the proper steps to maintain a drug-free workplace.

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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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