Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bradford, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair evaluation has emerged as an effective method for identifying substance usage. Hair captures a prolonged history of what a person consumes by embedding biomarkers within the steadily growing hair fibers. When cut near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 3-month period for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section with roughly 200 hairs (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels over 10, a 150mg sample is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent portion of body hair can be obtained. By head hair, we indicate only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all others (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary phases in lab processing of a substance test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the phase where a sample enters a lab’s workflow. This phase includes confirming the sample’s proper sealing and dispatch, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and adding any needed data not included in an electronic chain of custody.

Screening entails a preliminary assessment for substance abuse. Screening is a budget-friendly way to exclude drug use for the majority of samples; however, court admissibility requires confirmation of a positive screen. Samples that are considered presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity in Screening, extra hair is extracted from the initial collection and readied for Extraction. At this stage, substances are removed from hair at a much lower concentration than in alternate techniques, such as urine or saliva, making hair drug assessment the most complex technique to execute.

Validation of any positive screening findings is carried out with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptively positive samples undergo a wash prior to confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory workflow, from Accessioning to Verification, is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specifications and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug testing identifies drug usage for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests that have a reduced window.
• Hard to falsify: It's exceedingly difficult to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result precision.
• Displays historical usage: Reveals a pattern of substance use over a timeframe, not only recent instances.

Limitations:

• Incapable of spotting recent usage: Detection of drugs within hair takes about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments typically cost more than other testing approaches.
• Result discrepancies: Variables such as hair hue and personal hair growth variations may influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually reviews the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine testing in Bradford, AR by offering more accurate and reliable results. Compared to the limited detection window of urine tests, hair testing tracks drug use over a longer period, providing employers with detailed insights into substance use history. Employers fostering drug-free environments consider hair tests as a superior screening tool, ensuring adherence to stringent policies.

Extended Detection Window

Offering an extensive detection period, hair follicle testing in Bradford, AR covers drug use over up to 90 days. This makes it an effective strategy for employers to gain comprehensive insights into an applicant or employee's drug history. By extending the detection window far beyond conventional methods, hair testing proves invaluable in monitoring long-term substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing significantly diminishes the risk of sample tampering in Bradford, AR, ensuring uncompromised results. The nature of the test prevents adulteration, making it nearly impossible to cheat. Thus, employers gain confidence in the integrity and reliability of the outcomes provided through this superior testing method.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our widespread testing centers in Bradford, AR, and across the nation provide unmatched convenience. This accessibility guarantees a seamless and expedited process for anyone who needs to undertake a hair follicle drug test, ensuring that the experience is hassle-free for all involved parties.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Bradford, AR, we offer a straightforward and confidential testing process. From ordering to receiving results, our method addresses privacy concerns while maintaining ease of use, assuring participants that their information remains secure throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive prices and rapid turnaround times, our services in Bradford, AR present great value. We cater to companies of all sizes, offering a reliable and economical solution that ensures peace of mind with our quick and thorough testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Bradford, AR, hair follicle drug tests are known for their quick, precise, and consistent results. The process not only offers high detection accuracy but also efficiently identifies substance use patterns. This method promises reliable outcomes, making it an indispensable tool for organizations keen on maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Bradford, AR can achieve peace of mind and adhere to drug-free policies through hair follicle testing. By reducing legal risks and elevating workplace safety, this method assures compliance and works as a crucial component in maintaining a secure and productive 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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