Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gadsden, AZ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the growing hair fibers. Obtained from near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively tamper-proof, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches of approximately 200 hair strands (similar to a #2 pencil's diameter) near the scalp yields 100mg, the preferred amount for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels above 10, 150mg is advisable. We suggest weighing the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. When scalp hair isn't available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. "Head hair" refers solely to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for determining drug test results involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. It includes ensuring the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for illicit drugs. While Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive outcome must be confirmed for legal acceptability. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

For samples testing presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and set for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are derived from hair at lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation of a positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a briefer detection timeline.
• Challenge to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Supplies historical insights: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to identify recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair only after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than alternative drug testing strategies.
• Result variability: Elements including hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing
In Gadsden, AZ, the advantages of hair follicle testing over urine assessments are clear: it offers superior detection accuracy and reliability. While traditional urine tests have their place, hair tests prove more dependable for longer detection of drugs, ensuring employers receive the most thorough information.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window
In Gadsden, AZ, one significant advantage of hair follicle tests is their extended detection window of up to 90 days. This enables employment decision-makers to gain a broad perspective on an applicant’s or current employee's drug use history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method
In Gadsden, AZ, hair follicle tests are notably difficult to adulterate, providing outcomes that are both credible and unquestionable. This method minimizes the risk of sample tampering, offering secure and reliable results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations
Serving Gadsden, AZ, our testing centers nationwide provide fast, easy, and hassle-free access to drug testing services, ensuring convenience and efficiency for our clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process
The drug testing procedure in Gadsden, AZ is straightforward and private. To order, take, and receive results is seamless, addressing privacy concerns and simplifying the testing process for users.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround
In Gadsden, AZ, our competitive pricing and rapid results offer great value, ensuring that companies of all sizes receive efficient, cost-effective drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results
In Gadsden, AZ, hair follicle drug testing delivers swift, precise, and reliable outcomes. This method is distinct for its high accuracy in identifying substance use, providing assurance to those needing to evaluate drug use in individuals efficiently and unmistakably.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers
In Gadsden, AZ, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This not only mitigates legal risks but also promotes workplace safety, offering peace of mind for employers.

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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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