Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Stockton, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now acknowledged as a vital resource for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug use by encasing biomarkers within its strands. When sourced close to the scalp, it can detect substances over an estimated three-month span. Hair is easy to gather, hard to alter, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of roughly 200 strands of hair (comparable to a #2 pencil) near the scalp delivers 100mg of hair, which is an optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for precise measurement. In cases where scalp hair isn’t an option, an equivalent quantity of body hair might be used. When mentioning head hair, it’s specifically about scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary steps in the lab processing of drug test results: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of the preliminary processing of a sample into the lab's system. This step includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening offers a swift preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While screening is cost-effective for clearing most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for legal acceptance. Samples that are likely positive during Screening will require secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests likely positive during Screening, additional hair is withdrawn from the original specimen for Extraction. This step involves isolating drugs from hair, although at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive results from screening is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All likely positive samples are washed before confirmation when necessary. The comprehensive process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use over 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection span.
• Hard to falsify: Attempting to deceive a hair drug test is notably challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: It outlines a timeline of drug use, not solely recent activity.

Limitations:

• Incapable of catching recent use: Drugs appear in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are usually pricier compared to other methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences might influence drug metabolite concentration.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself and not on the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Stockton, AL:
Hair follicle testing offers superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. While urine tests cover a shorter timeframe, hair tests can detect substances from the past 90 days, making them more reliable and comprehensive. This extended detection window is invaluable for assessing long-term substance history.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Stockton, AL:
Hair follicle testing in Stockton, AL, allows employers insights into an individual’s substance use over an extended period, typically up to 90 days. This comprehensive view helps employers understand potential long-term use, offering a broader picture than standard testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Stockton, AL:
Hair follicle testing significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring that results are both reliable and unquestionable. With this robust method, tests remain accurate and indisputable, effectively minimizing attempts at manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Stockton, AL:
We provide a broad network of nationwide centers, rendering hair follicle testing accessible and convenient across Stockton, AL. This ensures a smooth, hassle-free process when accessing necessary testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Stockton, AL:
The procedure for ordering, conducting, and receiving results is designed to be simple yet confidential. This process respects privacy concerns, guaranteeing an effortless experience for those seeking testing services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Stockton, AL:
Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing past hair follicle testing services, promising a fast turnaround for results. This combination of affordability and efficiency offers great value and confidence to businesses of various sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Stockton, AL:
Hair follicle drug tests are recognized for their precision and swift results. The tests are highly accurate in detecting substance use, reflecting a commitment to both speed and reliability in Stockton, AL. Offering meticulous results rapidly, these tests provide clear advantages over slower, less accurate methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Stockton, AL:
By adopting hair follicle testing, employers can ensure commitment to workplace drug-free policies, minimizing legal risks and heightening workplace safety. This approach assures employers of compliance, contributing to a secure and responsible 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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