Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Central Heights, AZ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a robust method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. By encasing biomarkers within the fibers of a maturing hair strand, hair offers an extended chronicle of alcohol and drug utilization. A sample taken near the scalp can present an around 90-day detection window for substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat tough to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect specimen size for analysis. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advisable to collect 150mg of the sample. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent measure of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other forms, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

There are four principal steps in lab processing a drug test: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning initiates the sample processing in a lab’s system. This step certifies that the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigns it a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and finalizes extra data input that might not be present in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary test for drug abuse presence. While this step economically helps eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be legally valid. Samples that show positive indications in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.

In cases where a sample tests positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluid) which makes hair drug screening highly challenging.

Positive Screening results receive Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples showing preliminary positive results are cleansed prior if required. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and in compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests can trace substance use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a narrower detection frame.
• Enhanced accuracy: Cheating a hair drug test is notably hard, enhancing result reliability.
• Depicts usage trends: Offers a timeline of drug use over a stretch of time, not just immediate usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to trace recent usage: It requires about 5-7 days for substances to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are pricier compared to other testing techniques.
• Result variation: Drug metabolite concentrations in hair might fluctuate with hair color and personal hair growth differences.

Note: Commonly known as "hair follicle tests", this test evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair testing to traditional urine tests in Central Heights, AZ, it's clear that hair follicle tests offer superior detection accuracy. With a longer detection window than urine tests, which only provide a short-term history, hair tests deliver a more comprehensive look at substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Central Heights, AZ employers benefit from hair follicle testing's extended detection window. This method can reveal drug use over the past 90 days, offering a thorough view of an individual's past behaviors, crucial for workplace safety and applicant assessment.
This long-term insight is invaluable in making well-informed hiring and monitoring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the main advantages of hair follicle testing in Central Heights, AZ is its tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other methods, hair tests are difficult to adulterate, thus providing reliable and unquestionable results that are crucial for enforcing strict workplace policies and maintaining integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers widespread convenience with nationwide testing centers and local facilities in Central Heights, AZ. Our hassle-free access means quicker testing processes, minimal disruption. With our comprehensive network, individuals and companies alike can enjoy seamless service access anywhere.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Central Heights, AZ, we ensure a simple and confidential procedure for drug testing. From ordering a test to receiving results, privacy remains a priority, making the process undemanding and secure.
Clients can rest assured knowing their data is handled with utmost confidentiality throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times, Accredited Drug Testing in Central Heights, AZ delivers exceptional value. Our competitive pricing caters to companies of all sizes, ensuring cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality or speed.
We prioritize value as well as reliability in our testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Central Heights, AZ residents can trust hair follicle drug tests for fast and reliable results. These tests offer unmatched precision in detecting substance use, ensuring accuracy that instills confidence among employers and individuals.
The speed at which results are processed also aids in making timely and informed decisions about personal or employee wellness.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Central Heights, AZ can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. By adhering to drug-free workplace policies, companies reduce legal risks and enhance safety. This testing ensures a secure environment, safeguarding the welfare of all involved.
Peaceful operations are assured with legally compliant testing solutions.

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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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