Hair Follicle Drug Testing - South Tucson, AZ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means for detecting alcohol and drug usage. The growth of hair strands entraps biomarkers that reveal a long-term history of these substances. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and various drugs. It is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to ship.

A collection of roughly 1.5 inches of around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's size) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplemental tests, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for measuring the specimen. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. When we mention head hair, we mean only scalp hair. All other hair types, such as facial and axillary, fall under body hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result is comprised of four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase where the sample enters a lab’s system. This step verifies the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfills any lacking data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody process.

Screening performs an initial assessment for drugs of abuse. Although cost-effective in excluding drug use in most samples, a positive Screening must be confirmed to be court-admissible. Any samples that give a presumptive positive result during Screening require a further confirmation step.

If Screening yields a presumptive positive result, additional hair from the initial specimen is prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug testing the most challenging to carry out.

The confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples with presumptive positive results are washed prior to confirmation when necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation, with accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests trace drug use up to 90 days, while urine tests offer a shorter detection period.
• Increased accuracy: Due to the difficulty of tampering with hair tests, their results are more reliable.
• Historical insight: They can illustrate the pattern of drug use over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lack of recent use detection: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Typically, hair drug tests cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual variations in hair growth influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often termed as “hair follicle tests,” the process actually analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In South Tucson, AZ, hair follicle testing emerges as a superior choice over traditional urine testing. The benefits of hair testing include an extended detection window, ensuring a more comprehensive overview of substance use. Compared to urine tests, hair tests offer higher detection accuracy and reliability. This makes hair follicle tests the preferred method for those seeking thorough results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in South Tucson, AZ, boasts an extended detection window of up to 90 days for drug use. This extended timeframe gives employers a holistic view of the substance history of their employees. Unlike shorter-detection methods, these tests offer insights into long-term patterns, aiding in responsible hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In South Tucson, AZ, hair follicle tests are notably tamper-resistant. The nature of the testing process significantly reduces the risk of adulteration, providing results that can be trusted. This robust defense against tampering ensures that the outcomes are both reliable and unquestionable, setting a standard for accuracy in drug testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing centers, available nationwide and locally in South Tucson, AZ, offer unparalleled convenience. With easy access to testing services, we ensure the process is quick, straightforward, and stress-free. Individuals and organizations benefit from the efficiency of our widely accessible locations, streamlining their testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In South Tucson, AZ, the process of hair follicle testing is simple and confidential. From ordering to testing and receiving results, the procedure addresses privacy concerns. This ease of use ensures that individuals undergo their tests with confidence, knowing their information is handled discreetly and securely.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, our services in South Tucson, AZ, offer excellent value. Companies of all sizes benefit from standardized pricing structures and the rapid delivery of results. This cost-effectiveness, paired with reliability, provides businesses with peace of mind as they navigate drug testing requirements.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug testing in South Tucson, AZ, are unmatched. The high accuracy of these tests ensures that substance use is reliably detected without delay. By opting for this test, individuals and employers alike can be confident in their results. This rapid turnaround not only saves time but provides assurance in decision-making processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle testing in South Tucson, AZ, provides employers with compliance and peace of mind. This testing method supports adherence to workplace drug-free policies, reducing legal risks and fostering a safer work environment. By ensuring compliance, companies enhance their commitment to 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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