Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Parrish, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a significant method for detecting alcohol and drug use. The fibers of the growing hair strand capture biomarkers, providing a long-term history of substances. Hair collected near the scalp offers a detection window for alcohol and other drugs of up to roughly three months. This type of testing is easy to collect, fairly resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches with approximately 200 hair strands (similar to the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels greater than 10, it is advised to have 150mg of the sample. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, the same quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers only to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial processing into the laboratory system. This step involves confirming the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Though Screening is an efficient means to exclude drug use in the majority of samples, for a positive result to be valid in legal contexts, confirmation is required. Presumptive positive samples in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

If the Screening results indicate a presumptive positive, additional hair is taken from the initial specimen and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are removed from the hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to conduct.

To confirm any positive screening outcome, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques are employed. Presumptive positive specimens are washed as necessary before confirmation. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test is very difficult, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Offers historical insights: It can show a trend of drug usage over time, rather than just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent use detection: Drugs require around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual growth differences can influence the concentration of metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing stands out over urine tests in Parrish, AL. The benefits include superior detection accuracy and higher reliability, key elements ensuring comprehensive drug-testing solutions.

Compared to urine tests, hair follicle testing offers unmatched benefits in Parrish, AL, such as enhanced accuracy and unwavering reliability, making it the preferred choice for drug detection.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Parrish, AL, provides up to 90 days of detection, giving employers a thorough view of an applicant's or employee's substance history.

With an extended detection window of three months, hair follicle testing in Parrish, AL, ensures a comprehensive understanding of substance use, assisting employers in making informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Parrish, AL, are known for their tamper-resistant nature, significantly lowering the risk of sample adulteration and offering unquestionable results.

In Parrish, AL, the secure methodology of hair follicle tests greatly reduces tampering risks, delivering trustworthy outcomes every time.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Parrish, AL, our nationwide testing centers provide convenience, featuring easy access to drug testing services to meet your needs efficiently.

Our testing centers in Parrish, AL, are part of a nationwide network, offering hassle-free services with local access to meet any testing requirement promptly.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Parrish, AL, the process for hair follicle drug testing is simple and discreet, ensuring privacy and ease from ordering to results delivery.

Simplicity and confidentiality define the drug testing process in Parrish, AL, from beginning to end, addressing all privacy concerns efficiently.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Parrish, AL, offers affordable pricing and quick turnaround times for hair follicle testing, ensuring excellent value for businesses of any size.

With competitive prices and fast turnaround, Parrish, AL, remains a prime choice for businesses seeking cost-effective and timely drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Parrish, AL, hair follicle drug testing delivers rapid, precise, and reliable outcomes. Its accuracy in detecting substance use surpasses traditional methods, ensuring trusted results every time.

Speed and precision are the hallmarks of hair testing. In Parrish, AL, these tests not only provide quick results but also maintain a high standard of accuracy, essential for reliable decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Parrish, AL, gain compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies and minimizing legal risks.

Using hair follicle tests, Parrish, AL, employers can bolster workplace safety and compliance, providing reassurance and reducing liabilities linked to drug use.

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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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