Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gleeson, AZ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective resource for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and drug interactions by preserving biomarkers in the fibers of the developing hair strand. When sampled near the scalp, hair can reveal up to around a three-month window of detection for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for initial and confirmatory analysis. For EtG, supplemental, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest measuring the amount on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent mass of body hair might be used. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result includes four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the sample's entry into the laboratory system. This process checks that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient means to discount drug use in most cases, any positive screenings must be validated for court purposes. Samples determined to be presumptively positive in Screening necessitate an additional confirmation step.

When a sample is presumed positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the preliminary sample and prepped for Extraction. During this phase, substances are withdrawn from hair, typically at lesser concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing among the most complicated methods to execute.

Confirmation of a positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation if required. The entire laboratory method from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use over a period of up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a more limited timeframe for detection.
• Low likelihood of tampering: It's extremely challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result reliability.
• Reports historical usage: It offers a usage pattern over time rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than other drug screening techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can alter drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: While frequently known as "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Gleeson, AZ, hair follicle testing excels in outperforming traditional urine tests. The superior detection capabilities and extended detection window make hair testing more reliable, providing an accurate reflection of an individual's long-term substance use.

The accuracy and dependability of hair follicle tests in identifying drug use over several months place them ahead of more traditional urine testing methods, ensuring a more thorough assessment.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Gleeson, AZ, benefit from hair follicle testing's extended detection window—up to 90 days. This method offers a detailed perspective on an individual's history with substances, aiding in informed hiring and monitoring decisions.

The comprehensive view provided by hair tests ensures employers can grasp a complete understanding of an applicant's or employee's drug use history, crucial for maintaining a safe and compliant workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Gleeson, AZ, hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant method of detecting drug use, significantly reducing risks of sample adulteration. This reliability ensures that the results are both credible and unquestionable.

Utilizing hair samples, these tests circumvent common tampering issues seen in other methods, guaranteeing incontestable results and reinforcing the integrity of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our extensive network of testing centers ensures convenient access to hair follicle testing services in Gleeson, AZ, and nationwide, facilitating quick, easy, and hassle-free testing solutions.

With local and national centers available, our accessible locations provide the flexibility and convenience needed for any testing requirements, ensuring seamless service for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Gleeson, AZ, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease for all clients. From the ordering phase to taking the test and receiving results, every step is streamlined for your convenience.

Concerns about confidentiality are addressed with our secure process, allowing you to navigate the testing experience smoothly and with peace of mind regarding your privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With focus on affordable pricing and swift turnaround, our hair follicle testing services in Gleeson, AZ, offer excellent value, accommodating companies of all sizes while delivering timely results.

Our competitive prices ensure that testing remains accessible to businesses large and small, supplemented by prompt result delivery for utmost peace of mind and efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Gleeson, AZ, are renowned for their speed, accuracy, and reliability. These tests efficiently detect substance use, providing results that are both precise and swift, ensuring you have the trust and certainty needed for decision-making.

Unlike conventional methods, hair follicle testing guarantees unparalleled accuracy, offering a comprehensive analysis of substance use history, aiding employers and authorities in maintaining integrity and safety in various settings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Gleeson, AZ, hair follicle testing provides peace of mind and compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This method helps lower legal risks and bolsters safety in the workplace environment.

By choosing hair follicle tests, companies ensure adherence to stringent policies, prioritizing a drug-free and safe working atmosphere while mitigating potential liabilities.

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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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