Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kelvin, AZ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can offer an extended history of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. When collected near the scalp, hair can present approximately a 3-month detection period for both alcohol and other drugs. It is easy to collect hair, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will amount to 100mg, which is the ideal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, extras, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent measurement of body hair may be gathered. When we mention head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory system. This step includes verifying that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening involves a preliminary swift assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in a majority of samples, any positive screen must be confirmed to hold in court. Samples that show a presumptively positive result in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

When a sample is presumptively positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction preparation. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the toughest methodology to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are cleaned prior to confirmation, if needed. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a narrower detection period.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, ensuring more reliable results.
• Provides historical data: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Factors like hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Kelvin, AZ, several benefits arise. Hair testing provides superior detection accuracy and reliability, making it ideal for those seeking comprehensive results.

Hair follicle tests offer a much broader window of detection, capturing substance use effectively compared to urine tests. This advantage helps in maintaining workplace safety and adherence to drug-free policies.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Kelvin, AZ, offers an extended detection window, monitoring drug use up to 90 days before the test. This allows employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance-related history.

Such a long detection period ensures that past drug use is effectively documented, providing a valuable resource for employers during the employee vetting process.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Kelvin, AZ, the hair follicle testing method greatly mitigates the risks of sample tampering, producing trustworthy results. This testing technique is less susceptible to manipulation, ensuring dependability.

Providing an observed collection process, hair follicle testing reinforces the integrity of the sample, making it a dependable choice for employers and legal entities.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Kelvin, AZ, having convenient national and local testing sites simplifies access to our services. Our widespread testing centers make it easy to obtain necessary tests without excessive travel or waiting times.

Offering a hassle-free experience for those needing drug testing, our locations support quick and efficient service, addressing the needs of both individuals and businesses in Kelvin, AZ.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Kelvin, AZ, is designed to be simple and confidential, putting privacy and ease of use at the forefront. Ordering, conducting, and receiving your test results is streamlined for convenience.

With a focus on confidentiality, our testing ensures that clients can feel secure about their privacy throughout the entire process, making it both straightforward and discreet.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Kelvin, AZ, offers competitive pricing and swift test result turnaround times, providing excellent value across all business sizes. Our affordable testing ensures that comprehensive substance screening is accessible.

Coupled with fast processing periods, our pricing structure delivers on both quality and cost-effectiveness, ensuring peace of mind for employers and individuals alike.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed at which hair follicle drug tests deliver results in Kelvin, AZ, are unmatched. These tests stand out for their high accuracy in detecting substance use, providing employers and other stakeholders with reliable information.

Fast and accurate, hair follicle testing significantly reduces the time needed to verify substance use. This speedy process is beneficial for both employers and individuals requiring efficient results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Kelvin, AZ, ensures that employers comply with drug-free work policies, thereby reducing legal risks and enhancing workplace safety. Hair testing provides a reliable means of maintaining regulatory compliance.

Employers gain peace of mind, as the hair follicle test offers a comprehensive view of an employee's commitment to workplace standards by ensuring substance use is regulated.

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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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