Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Reeltown, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair. When harvested near the scalp, hair can reveal a drug and alcohol use timeline of up to roughly 90 days. It's straightforward to gather, less prone to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil’s diameter) closest to the scalp results in 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for analysis. For EtG, add-ons, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is suggested. If scalp hair is unattainable, an equivalent mass of body hair can be used. Head hair specifically means scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The process of analyzing a drug test sample involves four fundamental steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is entered into the lab's system. This step verifies the sample's seal and shipment status, assigns a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data entry not covered by an electronic custody system.

Screening is a rapid preliminary test for illicit substances. While it efficiently excludes drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal acceptance. Presumptively positive samples at Screening must undergo further verification.

Should a sample show positive results during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial collection for Extraction. In this process, substances are isolated from hair at lower concentrations than other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.

Positive results from Screening are verified through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. To ensure accuracy, samples that are presumptively positive are cleansed before confirmation. The lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and is certified under ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests cover a shorter period.
• Hard to evade: A hair drug test is challenging to manipulate, resulting in more reliable findings.
• Shows usage patterns: It can exhibit a history of drug use over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent consumption: It takes about 5-7 days for substances to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the level of drug metabolites present.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is commonly used, but the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Reeltown, AL
Hair follicle testing offers superior benefits over traditional urine tests. With enhanced detection accuracy and reliability, hair tests give a more comprehensive insight into an individual's substance use history, making them a preferred choice for many organizations.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Reeltown, AL
Hair follicle testing provides an extensive detection window, tracing drug use for up to 90 days. This capability offers employers a thorough view of a subject’s substance use over time, facilitating informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Reeltown, AL
Hair follicle tests drastically limit sample tampering risks, ensuring the results are reliable and unquestionable. This attribute makes hair tests the reliable go-to solution for accurate drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Reeltown, AL
Our extensive network of testing centers guarantees easy and hassle-free access to hair follicle drug test services, both nationwide and in Reeltown, AL, offering unparalleled convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Reeltown, AL
The hair follicle testing process is designed to be straightforward and confidential, from ordering the test to receiving the results. This method addresses privacy concerns, ensuring ease of use for all clients.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Reeltown, AL
Offering competitive pricing with swift turnaround times, our hair follicle drug testing services provide invaluable benefits, offering excellent value for organizations of every size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Reeltown, AL
Hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their precision and speed, offering accurate results for detecting substance use. These tests stand out for their ability to provide reliable findings, ensuring employers and individuals receive dependable information quickly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Reeltown, AL
Employers turn to hair follicle testing to maintain compliance with drug-free working environments. This choice helps mitigate legal risks and boosts workplace safety and peace of mind for employers.

Drug Testing Near Reeltown, AL

Little Texas-Society Hill, AL

Jacksons' Gap, AL

Auburn, AL

Our Town, AL

Shorter-Hardaway, AL

Camp Hill, AL

Dadeville, AL

Shorter, AL

Tuskegee, AL

Eclectic, AL

Tuskegee-Milstead, AL

Milstead, AL

Loachapoka, AL

Notasulga, AL

Tallassee, AL

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews