Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Fort Valley, AZ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a historical record of alcohol and drugs by enclosing biomarkers within its growing fibers. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer an approximately 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, ideal for screening and verification. For EtG enhancements, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is recommended. We advise measuring the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't present, an equivalent amount of body hair can be obtained. When mentioning head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types like facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The key steps in processing a drug test result in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary step of entering a sample into a lab's system, ensuring it was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any extra data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial rapid test for drug abuse. Although cost-effective for ruling out drug usage in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening need further confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. This phase extracts drugs from hair at a lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmatory testing of positive screening results is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives undergo washing as needed before confirmation. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is audited 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 can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which cover a shorter period.
• Hard to cheat: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly challenging, thus ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers historical perspective: It documents a pattern of drug use over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair only after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing approaches.
• Result variability: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually focuses on hair strands, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Fort Valley, AZ, hair follicle testing is superior to urine tests, especially in detecting long-term drug use. Hair tests provide a higher detection accuracy and are less susceptible to manipulation. Employers and organizations benefit from this method due to its extended detection window, making it a more reliable choice for comprehensive drug screening.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Fort Valley, AZ, offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This method provides employers with a thorough overview of an individual's substance use history, surpassing the capabilities of standard tests. This long-term insight helps in making informed decisions regarding employment and compliance with drug policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Fort Valley, AZ, hair follicle testing demonstrates a robust defense against sample tampering. By using hair samples, this method drastically reduces the possibility of adulteration, ensuring credible and irrefutable test outcomes. This reliability positions hair follicle testing as a preferred choice for those seeking trustworthy drug testing solutions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Fort Valley, AZ, the convenience of nationwide testing centers ensures seamless access to drug testing services. Our multiple locations provide an easy and hassle-free experience, making it simple for individuals and businesses to undergo hair follicle testing without delay.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Fort Valley, AZ, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential. From the ordering phase to the test administration and result collection, each step prioritizes privacy and ease. This makes hair testing an appealing option for individuals concerned about discretion and convenience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Fort Valley, AZ, hair follicle testing offers not only accuracy but also affordability and rapid results. With competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, this method provides great value. Businesses of various sizes can benefit from cost-effective and efficient drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fort Valley, AZ, stands out for its hair follicle drug testing, known for swift and precise results. These tests excel in promptly identifying substance use, offering a reliable alternative to traditional testing methods. The speed and accuracy of hair follicle tests make them an invaluable resource for ensuring effective drug screening in various settings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Fort Valley, AZ, gain peace of mind from hair follicle testing. With this method, businesses can maintain drug-free environments, complying with workplace policies and minimizing legal risks. The accuracy and extended detection capability of hair tests enhance workplace safety and integrity.

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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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