Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Red Bay, AL

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair for drug and alcohol testing is now recognized as an effective method. Hair can create a lengthy timeline of substance usage by encasing biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When taken from close to the scalp, hair offers approximately a three-month detection period for drugs and alcohol. It is easy to gather, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

Collecting a 1.5-inch sample consisting of roughly 200 hairs (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for initial and confirmatory screenings. For EtG, additional tests, or testing beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest measuring the weight with a jeweler's scale. If there isn’t any scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair should be collected. In terms of head hair, it refers specifically to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other variations (like facial or axillary hair).

Overview of the Process

There are four core stages in processing a drug test result at the lab: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial processing into the lab’s system. This stage checks that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any needed data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs a preliminary drug abuse check. Although it is economical for ruling out drugs in most samples, legal acceptability of a positive screen requires confirmation. Any samples suggesting positivity in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Upon presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is isolated from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other processes (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug tests a complex methodology.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods confirm any positive results from Screening. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the standards of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests detect drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, ensuring result accuracy.
• Shows consumption trends: The test reflects a drug usage pattern over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Disadvantages:

• Recent use detection is limited: It typically takes about 5-7 days for drugs to show in hair.
• Expense: Typically, hair tests cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result fluctuations: Variables such as hair color and growth rate can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often named "hair follicle tests", this analysis examines the hair strands, not the follicles beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Red Bay, AL
Hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage over traditional urine tests with greater accuracy and reliability. Unlike urinalysis, which covers a limited time, hair testing extends detection periods, ensuring comprehensive insights into substance use, making it an invaluable tool for employers and legal systems.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Red Bay, AL
Hair follicle testing shines with its extended detection window, covering up to 90 days. This prolonged period allows employers to gain valuable insights into an applicant's substance history, facilitating more informed decisions and offering a clearer picture of long-term drug use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Red Bay, AL
Hair follicle tests significantly reduce the risk of tampering, offering reliable results. Unlike urine samples, which can be altered, hair samples are collected in a way that's difficult to adulterate, providing trustworthy results essential for maintaining integrity and accountability.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Red Bay, AL
With widespread testing facilities, Accredited Drug Testing makes hair analysis convenient. Our extensive network ensures swift and hassle-free access to testing services, whether locally in Red Bay or nationwide, providing ease and flexibility for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Red Bay, AL
We ensure a straightforward and confidential process for hair follicle testing. From ordering to receiving results, privacy concerns are prioritized, ensuring clients experience a seamless journey that upholds confidentiality every step of the way.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Red Bay, AL
Offering competitive pricing and rapid result delivery, Accredited Drug Testing brings exceptional value to businesses of any scale. With budget-friendly options and quick turnaround, clients receive outstanding service while maintaining cost efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Red Bay, AL
Hair follicle drug tests boast impressive accuracy and speed. By analyzing hair samples, these tests effectively identify substance use, providing quick and dependable results. Speedy processing means individuals and organizations can rely on fast decision-making backed by high accuracy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Red Bay, AL
Employing hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks and enhancing safety. Employers can rest easy knowing they have a reliable method to back their policies, reducing potential liabilities and fostering a safer working 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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