Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Providence, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair samples can offer up to a 3-month detection period for both alcohol and drugs. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 strands of hair (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. We advise weighing the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, we are specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other types (facial, axillary, among others).

Process Overview

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

During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory system. This step ensures that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigns a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) at random, and completes any required data entry that an electronic chain of custody system doesn't provide.

Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for substances of misuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a confirmed positive screen is necessary for admissibility in legal settings. Samples showing a presumptive positive result in Screening do necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample is deemed presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair from the initial collection is extracted during the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair, at concentrations much lower than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are, if necessary, cleansed before confirmation. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire laboratory procedure is meticulously scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and accreditation by ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, more extended than the shorter window presented by urine testing.
• High resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is exceptionally challenging, which enhances result reliability.
• Offers usage history: It provides an account of drug use over time, rather than focusing solely on recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Limited recent use detection: Drugs typically require 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur higher costs than other testing techniques.
• Result variation: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis actually examines the hair strand itself, not the hair follicle situated beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Topples Urine Testing in Providence, AL
Hair follicle testing presents a significant advantage over traditional urine testing due to its broader detection timeline and its immunity to tampering. By ensuring superior accuracy and reliability, it offers a truer insight into drug use history compared to the more commonly used urine test.

Extended Detection Window

Maximized Detection Period in Providence, AL
Hair follicle testing provides a unique advantage by tracing drug use over an extended period of up to 90 days. This feature grants employers a thorough understanding of an individual's drug history, affording a more comprehensive view into their patterns of substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Unmatched Tamper-Resistance in Testing
For those seeking assurance in substance testing, hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant method that significantly reduces the opportunity for sample manipulation, ensuring the highest degree of reliability and trustworthiness in the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Ease of Access with Local and Nationwide Centers
Whether in Providence, AL, or across the country, our accessible testing centers make it simple for clients to undergo tests quickly and seamlessly, minimizing hassle and ensuring a streamlined experience for all.

Simple, Confidential Process

Confidential and Simple Process in Providence, AL
We prioritize privacy and ease, offering a straightforward process for ordering and conducting tests, ensuring results are confidential while maintaining a user-friendly approach to substance screening.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Value and Speed in Providence, AL
Affordability and expedience are key with our competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, ensuring that companies, regardless of size, benefit from prompt and effective drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Providence, AL, Professionals Prefer Hair Follicle Testing
In the arena of drug testing, these tests stand out for delivering fast, accurate, and dependable outcomes. When it comes to detecting substance use, hair analysis is a superior choice, offering unparalleled precision and swift results that keep up with the demands of modern testing requirements.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Assured Compliance and Employer Confidence
In Providence, AL, employing hair follicle testing aligns with workplace drug-free policies, minimizing legal exposure and bolstering occupational safety, providing peace of mind for employers intent on maintaining a secure work environment.

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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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