Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mcnary, AZ

What it is, How it works

Considered a robust means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption, hair testing offers a comprehensive timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair shaft as it grows. Hair samples taken near the scalp can reveal substance usage up to about three months back. This method is non-intrusive to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch snip comprising roughly 200 hair strands (similar in diameter to a #2 pencil) cut closest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is optimal for testing purposes. For EtG screenings, additions, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement. Should scalp hair not be accessible, an equivalent portion of body hair is an alternative. In the context of head hair, this specifically denotes scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Outline

The laboratory processing of test results for drugs involves four major stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial recording of a sample into the lab’s system, ensuring the sample was appropriately sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any supplementary information missing from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is the preliminary evaluation for drug presence, offering an economical solution to eliminate drug usage in most samples. However, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal acceptance. Presumptive positive samples identified during Screening must undergo additional confirmation.

For samples assessed as presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. In this stage, substances are isolated from hair at a concentration much lower than other methods (like urine or oral fluids), making hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

Any positive screening is confirmed using techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entirety of the lab workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests reveal drug consumption up to 90 days prior, whereas urine tests only offer a much shorter timeline.
• Hard to manipulate: The accuracy of hair drug tests is increased due to the difficulty of manipulation.
• Long-term usage data: It presents a timeline of drug consumption, rather than just recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs take around 5-7 days post-consumption before becoming detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur more costs compared to other methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair pigmentation and individual differences in hair growth might influence drug metabolite levels within the hair.

Note: Although the tests are frequently termed "hair follicle tests", they actually scrutinize the hair strand, not the follicle located beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing with traditional urine tests in McNary, AZ, several advantages are evident. Hair tests excel in detection accuracy, offering a reliable glimpse into a person's substance use history. They outperform urine tests in terms of dependability, providing a secure, fool-proof option for those needing thorough and conclusive results.

Extended Detection Window

With a detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in McNary, AZ stands out in identifying long-term substance use. This extended period permits employers to gain a broader understanding of an individual's drug use habits, ensuring a comprehensive view that can be crucial for informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in McNary, AZ offer a tamper-resistant method of drug testing. This testing mechanism significantly curtails the chance of sample adulteration, leading to results that are reliable and beyond question. Employers and legal entities benefit from the assurance that these tests are conducted in a highly secure manner.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers numerous convenient testing locations across McNary, AZ, and nationally. This extensive network allows quick, hassle-free access to our services, ensuring clients can find readily available testing centers without undue effort or delay, underscoring our commitment to ease and accessibility.

Simple, Confidential Process

In McNary, AZ, the process of hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, the steps are designed to protect privacy while being user-friendly. This approach addresses any concerns about ease of use and confidentiality in the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing in McNary, AZ is characterized by competitive pricing and quick turnaround times. We aim to deliver exceptional value, ensuring that businesses of all sizes can benefit from our services without financial strain. Providing peace of mind, this efficiency ensures rapid access to crucial testing results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in McNary, AZ offers swift and precise results. The high accuracy in identifying substance use ensures reliable outcomes, critical for employers and individuals requiring exact information. Emphasizing efficiency, hair testing provides confidence in the data acquired and is invaluable in maintaining safety and integrity in the workplace.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In McNary, AZ, hair follicle testing supports employers in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By integrating this testing, companies enhance workplace safety and reduce legal risks. Ensuring peace of mind, it fortifies the commitment to a safe and compliant working environment.

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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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