Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Oakman, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair examinations have gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of substance use by preserving biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer an approximately 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, fairly resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 strands of hair (about the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the ideal quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analyses, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. We advise measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary steps within the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial entry of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This process includes ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary quick assessment for substances of concern. Although Screening is an economical approach to eliminate drug use in most cases, a positive result requires verification to be acceptable in legal proceedings. Any samples that test positive in Screening demand a secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a much lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging methodology to perform.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair accreditation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to tamper with: It is very challenging to deceive a hair drug test, hence, the results are more reliable.
• Offers historical insight: It can depict a pattern of substance use over time, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: Drugs are detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Cost: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle tests with traditional urine tests, the former significantly outshines the latter in many areas. In Oakman, AL, these tests are preferred because hair tests cover a broader detection window, offering evidence of drug use over months. While urine tests provide a snapshot of recent use, hair testing reveals a longer history, providing a comprehensive substance profile, enhancing accuracy and reliability.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Oakman, AL, often prefer hair follicle testing because it offers a detection window of up to 90 days. This extended timeframe provides a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance use history, which is invaluable for employers wishing to maintain a drug-free environment. By offering insights that span beyond the brief window provided by urine tests, hair testing ensures a more thorough assessment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle test is a tamper-resistant method of drug detection widely used in Oakman, AL, due to its reliability. Unlike urine tests, which can sometimes be adulterated or substituted, hair tests are conducted under close supervision, significantly minimizing the chance of sample tampering. The results from hair testing are therefore trustworthy and provide a clear picture of an individual's substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Oakman, AL, benefits from our extensive network of testing centers across the nation, ensuring convenient and straightforward access to hair follicle drug testing. With numerous locations available, getting to a testing site is hassle-free and quick. This convenience is ideal for those who require efficient and accessible testing services without the need to travel long distances, ensuring timely testing for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Oakman, AL, the process of hair follicle drug testing is designed to be both simple and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving the results, every step is streamlined and secure. Individuals can rest assured that their privacy is protected throughout the process, as the procedures are carried out with the utmost discretion, addressing any privacy concerns with ease and efficiency.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Oakman, AL, offers competitive pricing and rapid turnaround for hair follicle drug tests. By maintaining affordable pricing structures, we cater to companies of all sizes, ensuring they receive excellent value. Businesses looking for reliable testing solutions can benefit from quick results and fair costs, which are crucial for maintaining budget considerations while ensuring workplace safety and compliance.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Oakman, AL, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their precision and rapid results. These tests are unmatched in their ability to accurately detect substance use. Unlike other methods, hair testing can reveal the presence of drugs or alcohol with a high degree of certainty, ensuring that individuals are either properly screened or cleared swiftly. This method offers reliable, fast results essential for various professional and personal scenarios.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Oakman, AL, helps employers uphold workplace drug-free policies, thereby ensuring compliance and safety. This method supports adherence to legal standards and is an effective tool for reducing potential legal risks. By opting for hair testing, companies not only safeguard their reputation but also create a safer working environment, providing peace of mind to both employers and employees.

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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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