Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Orrville, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a highly effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a comprehensive historical record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fiber structure of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can provide an approximate three-month detection scope for drugs and alcohol. Hair sampling is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A standard sample involves taking a 1.5-inch section of about 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, yielding approximately 100mg, which is optimal for testing and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's best to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a similar amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair specifically indicate scalp hair. Body hair signifies any other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Drug test processing in the lab encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the lab's system, ensuring it was sealed and transported correctly, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing missing data entry not available in an electronic chain of custody.

Screening acts as a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. It is a budget-friendly method to identify non-drug usage in most samples, but a positive screen needs to be confirmed for any legal proceedings. Samples showing presumptive positives in Screening will require further confirmation.

For samples marked presumptively positive at the Screening phase, additional hair from the original specimen is taken and prepared for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than methods like urine or oral fluid testing, contributing to the complexity of hair drug screenings.

Confirming any positive screening outcomes utilizes GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Should confirmation be necessary, positive samples undergo washing. The entire laboratory processing sequence, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and satisfies the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Reduced likelihood of deception: Cheating a hair drug test is significantly challenging, enhancing result reliability.
• Historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of substance use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lack of recent use detection: A timeframe of 5-7 days is necessary to detect drugs in hair.
• Expense: Typically, hair drug tests carry a higher cost than other testing alternatives.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and diverse individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests," this test examines the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Orrville, AL, surpasses urine testing by offering superior detection reliability. It provides a larger window of substance traceability, capturing drug use that might escape urine analyses.

Unlike urine tests, which detect recent drug use, hair analysis reveals a longer history, proving beneficial for employers with strict no-drug policies.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of up to 90 days in hair follicle testing provides Orrville employers a comprehensive view of an applicant's substance history.

This long-span detection allows businesses to make informed decisions, ensuring a drug-free work environment by understanding an employee's past drug use trends.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Orrville's hair follicle testing methodology substantially reduces the risk of sample fraud, resulting in trustworthy outcomes.

Given its tamper-resistant nature, this testing approach reassures stakeholders of indisputable results, critical for maintaining integrity and compliance.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The flexibility of Accredited Drug Testing's nationwide and Orrville, AL, locations guarantees swift and convenient test access.

With our widespread center availability, individuals gain rapid and hassle-free entry to vital testing services, aiding seamless substance tracking and safety compliance.

Simple, Confidential Process

Orrville, AL, offers a straightforward, confidential process for hair follicle testing—safeguarding privacy from test initiation to results delivery.

The simplicity of ordering, undergoing tests, and receiving outcomes streamlines the experience, supporting ease and confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering cost-effective pricing and quick result turnaround, Orrville, AL, guarantees great value and reliability for organizations testing employees.

Our pricing models cater to businesses of varying sizes, ensuring comprehensive coverage and financial prudence in maintaining a drug-free environment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Orrville, AL, the precision and speed of hair follicle testing offer unmatched accuracy in substance use detection. With advanced technology, results are delivered promptly, ensuring that businesses and individuals are informed swiftly.

The reliability of hair follicle drug tests ensures that the chances of false positives or negatives are minimized, providing a consistent and dependable testing experience.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Orrville, AL, benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring strict adherence to drug-free workplace rules, mitigating legal liabilities.

Implementing hair follicle testing as a standard process fosters a secure work atmosphere, providing company leaders peace of mind.

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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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