Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Winona, AZ

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair testing is increasingly regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a repository for a lengthy history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When clipped close to the scalp, hair can offer up to a roughly 90-day detection period for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient to send.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (the thickness similar to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It is advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is not accessible, a similar volume of body hair is an acceptable substitute. Reference to head hair is exclusive to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial steps of incorporating a sample into a laboratory’s system. This stage ensures the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, the assignment of an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and the completion of any necessary data input not captured by an electronic custody protocol.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for drug presence. Screening serves as a budget-friendly method to exclude drug usage for a majority of samples; however, a positive result must undergo confirmation for legal admissibility. All samples with a preliminary positive during Screening require further confirmation.

For samples showing a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for the Extraction phase. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations lower than alternative techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis particularly challenging.

Confirmation of any positive in the screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation, as needed. The entire lab workflow, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is comprehensively examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection range: Hair drug analyses can identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which provide a shorter detection span.
• Challenges in falsification: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals a pattern of substance usage over time, rather than only recent use.

Limitations:

• Lacks the ability to detect recent use: Detectable drug presence in hair requires roughly 5-7 days to manifest.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically incurs higher costs compared to other testing approaches.
• Result fluctuations: Hair color differences and personal hair growth variability can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair samples.

Note: Despite frequently being called "hair follicle tests", the analysis pertains to the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Winona, AZ
Hair testing surpasses traditional urine tests with its superior detection accuracy. The hair follicle method offers reliable results that are harder to manipulate, providing a dependable solution for monitoring drug use over time.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Winona, AZ
Hair follicle testing allows for the detection of drug use up to a staggering 90 days, offering a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Winona, AZ
The hair follicle test is robust against tampering, greatly reducing the risk of sample adulteration. This makes it a reliable method, ensuring results that can be confidently trusted.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Winona, AZ
The widespread availability of testing centers ensures that individuals have convenient and hassle-free access to testing services, streamlining the process.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Winona, AZ
The hair testing process is straightforward and confidential, safeguarding the privacy of individuals while making testing accessible and easy to navigate.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Winona, AZ
We offer competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, delivering remarkable value and peace of mind for businesses of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Winona, AZ
Hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their precision and speed, providing unparalleled accuracy in detecting substance use. The testing process ensures rapid results, offering individuals and employers the confidence of knowing they can rely on the assessments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Winona, AZ
Employers who utilize hair follicle testing benefit from ensured adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal complications while promoting a safer work 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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