Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Weogufka, AL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the strands of the hair as it grows. When taken close to the scalp, hair can reveal a detection timeline of nearly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplementary items, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample. If head hair isn't an option, the equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When we talk about head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other types like facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test comprises four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample undergoes initial processing into a lab’s system. This step checks if the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any extra data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary quick assessment for substances of abuse. Screening offers an economical means to exclude drug presence in most samples, yet a positive screen requires confirmation for court validity. Samples showing a presumptive positive result in Screening need further confirmation.

In the event of a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence hair drug testing presents a significant challenge methodologically.

Any positive Screening outcome must be confirmed by GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples get washed before the necessary confirmation. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is comprehensively reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing reveals drug use for up to 90 days, contrasting shorter detection periods with urine tests.
• Challenging to fabricate: Manipulating a hair drug test is exceedingly hard, thus enhancing result precision.
• Provides usage pattern: It outlines drug usage over a span of time, not just recent abuse.

Drawbacks:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days post-use.
• Cost factor: Hair drug tests often incur higher costs compared to alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth disparities can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests”, the test examines the strand of hair, not the follicle located beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Weogufka, AL, outperforms urine tests with superior detection accuracy and reliability.

While traditional urine tests only cover recent drug use, hair tests offer a broader detection window, providing enhanced insight into individuals' histories.

Extended Detection Window

In Weogufka, AL, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection window, offering insights into drug usage for up to 90 days.

This longevity supplies employers with a detailed view of substance use, making it an invaluable tool for assessing applicants and staff's history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Weogufka, AL, significantly reduces the risk of sample tampering.

The process offers reliable results, making it a trusted method to ensure the integrity of drug testing without concern for adulteration.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our convenient nationwide testing centers, including local sites in Weogufka, AL, facilitate easy sample collection.

This ensures hassle-free and swift access to testing services, making hair follicle tests highly accessible for everyone.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Weogufka, AL, the process for hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential.

With ease of ordering, taking, and receiving results, privacy and convenience are maintained throughout, ensuring user comfort and secure handling.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing structures and fast turnaround, hair follicle testing offers excellent value in Weogufka, AL.

This cost-effective solution is ideal for companies of all sizes, ensuring quick and reliable results without heavy financial burdens.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The high accuracy and rapid results of hair follicle drug testing are unparalleled in Weogufka, AL.

Hair tests boast precision in detecting substance use, ensuring fast and reliable data for employers and authorities alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing in Weogufka, AL, helps employers maintain compliance with drug-free policies.

This method safeguards against legal concerns and boosts workplace safety, offering employers peace of mind and a secure 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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