Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Birdsong, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When sampled close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection span of up to roughly three months for alcohol and various drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hairs (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the preferred quantity for examination and validation. When testing for EtG, add-ons, or more than 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. We advise weighing the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other types, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning marks the sample's initial processing in a lab's system. This step includes confirming the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any additional data not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary, efficient check for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in court. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening require additional confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive at Screening, more hair is taken from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation when necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection time frame.
• Hard to manipulate: It is notably challenging to deceive a hair drug test, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Shows usage patterns: It can reveal a history of drug use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: Drugs need about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Variations in hair color and individual hair growth can influence metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Birdsong, AR, hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine tests with its enhanced accuracy. The extended detection window of up to 90 days allows for a more thorough assessment of substance use. With hair tests, there is a higher degree of reliability, addressing the limitations that urine tests often present when tracking long-term drug use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Birdsong, AR provide a detailed look at substance use history over a span of up to 90 days. This expansive detection window surpasses that of urine tests, offering employers the ability to see a comprehensive picture of an individual's drug use patterns. By utilizing hair tests, companies benefit from a more complete background check process.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Birdsong, AR, hair follicle tests are a tamper-resistant solution. Unlike urine tests which can be adulterated, hair tests safeguard against such risks, delivering results that are dependable and hard to dispute. Trust in these tests assures reliable outcomes, free from manipulation, ensuring authenticity in the findings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With myriad nationwide testing centers, including those in Birdsong, AR, our services are conveniently accessible. This extensive network promises a seamless, stress-free testing process for all, ensuring you receive prompt and efficient service at any location across the nation.
This accessibility streamlines the testing experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Birdsong, AR, the hair follicle testing process is remarkably simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, the entire procedure is streamlined to guarantee privacy and ease. This ensures participants are confident throughout the testing, with the assurance their information remains private.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Birdsong, AR benefits from our affordable pricing on hair follicle tests. Coupled with swift turnaround times, our services provide exceptional value to companies, irrespective of their size. Competitive rates and rapid results make hair testing an economical and efficient solution.
This blend of cost-effectiveness and speed is appealing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Birdsong, AR, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their rapid precision in detecting substance use. This method is not only quick but also boasts an outstanding accuracy rate, making it an ideal choice for workplaces. When you choose hair follicle testing, you ensure that results are not just fast but incredibly reliable.
The swift turnaround of results also means less waiting and more decisive action.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Birdsong, AR gain peace of mind with hair follicle tests, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies. These tests mitigate legal challenges and bolster workplace safety. By integrating hair testing, companies can improve compliance and reduce the risks associated with workplace substance use.

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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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