Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Redstone Arsenal, AL

What it is, How it works

Tracing drug and alcohol usage, hair testing is recognized as an effective method. Hair captures biomarkers within its fibers and retains a record over time. When clipped near the scalp, it offers a detection period of up to three months for various substances. The collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches approximately equating to 200 hair strands (akin to the size of a #2 pencil) is needed, yielding 100mg, which is optimum for both screening and verification. For tests like EtG, or beyond 10-panel, 150mg of hair is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen is suggested. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. 'Head hair' refers strictly to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for analyzing drug test results encompasses four principal phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning starts with incorporating a sample into the lab system. This step ensures proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any residual data entry absent from a digital chain of custody.

Initial screening rapidly inspects for drugs of abuse. While it efficiently excludes drug usage in most samples, a positive screen mandates further verification for legal acceptability. Samples flagged as potentially positive require follow-up confirmation.

For any sample deemed possibly positive during Screening, additional hair is sourced from the first specimen for Extraction. At this phase, drug residues are extracted at significantly lower concentrations than seen with methods like urine or oral swabs, making hair sample analysis notably challenging.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods verify any results indicated by Screening to be positive. Before confirming, samples with presumptive positives undergo washing. The comprehensive laboratory review from Accessioning to Confirmation aligns with CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO/IEC 17025 compliance.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection: Detecting drug usage for as long as 90 days, more extended than urine testing limits.
• Hard to bypass: Tampering with hair drug tests is nearly impossible, increasing accuracy.
• Shows usage patterns: Offers a comprehensive view of drug consumption trends over time.

Limitations:

• Misses immediate usage: Drugs tend to be traceable in hair only after 5-7 days post-usage.
• Expense: Hair testing incurs generally higher costs compared to other methods.
• Inconsistent results: Influences like hair color or individual growth rates can modify drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Termed as "hair follicle tests", it actually examines the hair strand, rather than the follicle found beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Redstone Arsenal, AL, hair follicle tests stand out against traditional urine tests. These advanced methods provide superior detection accuracy and reliability, making them ideal for various stakeholders. The extended detection window and difficulty to manipulate make them a preferred choice for detecting drug use effectively.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Redstone Arsenal, AL benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle testing. This advanced method offers a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history, covering up to 90 days. Such insights are invaluable for informed decision-making and maintaining a safe work environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Redstone Arsenal, AL, hair follicle tests reduce the impact of sample adulteration, thanks to their tamper-resistant nature. This method ensures that the results are reliable and non-questionable, providing stakeholders with the confidence and peace of mind that testing outcomes are legitimate.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With nationwide and local centers available in Redstone Arsenal, AL, testing is made convenient and accessible. Our multitude of locations ensures an easy, hassle-free approach to get necessary drug tests done without difficulty, enhancing the availability and speed of service for everyone.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our simple and confidential process in Redstone Arsenal, AL addresses privacy concerns effectively. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is seamless and discreet, ensuring the entire experience is smooth and comfortable for all parties, upholding the highest standards of privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Redstone Arsenal, AL, our services provide excellent value. We cater to businesses of all sizes, ensuring they receive prompt results at competitive rates, thereby supporting them with cost-effective and reliable testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Redstone Arsenal, AL, our hair follicle drug tests offer unparalleled speed and accuracy. Unlike other methods, these tests swiftly deliver highly reliable results, ensuring that substance use is detected with precision. This rapid and precise testing helps organizations make informed, timely decisions without compromising on accuracy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Redstone Arsenal, AL find peace with hair follicle testing, known for ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal risks and reinforces workplace safety, allowing peace of mind knowing that compliance is maintained with these accurate tests.

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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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