Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Beaver Valley, AZ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a repository of long-term substance intake by capturing biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When taken near the scalp, a hair sample can reveal usage of alcohol and drugs over a span of up to three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

Sourcing a 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hairs (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG tests, supplementary tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advised. We suggest weighing the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent volume of body hair is acceptable. When discussing head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The primary phases in the lab testing process include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning constitutes the initial integration of a sample into a lab's database. This step involves verifying proper sealing and dispatch of the sample, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing other necessary data entry that was not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening entails a preliminary evaluation for drugs. While Screening is a budget-friendly approach for excluding drug consumption in many samples, a positive result demands Confirmation to hold up in legal scenarios. Samples indicated as positive during Screening require further confirmation.

For samples marked as positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction stage. During this phase, drugs are extracted at lower concentrations from hair compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing poses significant challenges.

Confirmation of any positive screening results is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive testing process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is examined in accordance with CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair protocols and ISO / IEC 17025 certifications.

Strengths of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use for up to three months, unlike urine tests with shorter detection ranges.
• High difficulty of deception: It's notably complex to falsify results in a hair drug test, increasing its reliability.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a timeline of drug consumption, rather than immediate or recent usage.

Drawbacks:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: Drugs become traceable in hair after about 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are more costly than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and variations in personal hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentrations.

Note: Despite being often termed "hair follicle tests", these tests assess the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Beaver Valley, AZ is clear when comparing benefits. Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy, capturing a wider window of substance use compared to traditional urine tests. Employers gain reliable insights into employee substance use, overshadowing the limited detection of urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window is a compelling aspect of hair follicle testing in Beaver Valley, AZ. By covering up to 90 days of drug use, hair analysis provides employers a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history. This long-range detection far exceeds that of other testing techniques.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Beaver Valley, AZ underscores the reliability of hair follicle tests. The risk of sample adulteration is significantly reduced, ensuring unquestionable results. This method offers peace of mind due to its inherent integrity and security against tampering.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations ensure accessibility in Beaver Valley, AZ. Our extensive network of testing centers provides quick and easy testing services, offering hassle-free access to necessary assessments, locally and nationwide.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process highlights the ease of hair follicle testing in Beaver Valley, AZ. The process of ordering, taking, and receiving results is straightforward, addressing concerns of privacy and simplifying the testing experience for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround bring value to hair follicle testing in Beaver Valley, AZ. With our competitive pricing and swift result delivery, companies of all sizes receive excellent value and peace of mind, knowing their testing needs are met efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results are an expectation for drug testing in Beaver Valley, AZ. Hair follicle drug tests offer exceptional precision and speed, detecting substance use effectively. With hair testing, results are not only quick but also highly accurate, providing a trustworthy resource for identifying drug use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Beaver Valley, AZ stems from hair follicle testing's alignment with workplace drug-free policies. By using these tests, employers reduce legal risks and enhance workplace safety, ensuring compliance and safeguarding the 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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