Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Centerton, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair analyses have gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a repository for long-term substance history by capturing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. Collecting hair near the scalp allows for a detection span of up to around three months for alcohol and various drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

Collecting a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) from near the scalp yields 100mg, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding ten, it's advisable to obtain 150mg. It's suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be collected, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Laboratory Processing Steps

Processing a drug test in the lab involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample into the laboratory system, which includes checking that the sample was properly sealed and transported, generating a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any necessary data entry not covered by the electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is the initial, rapid assessment for substance abuse. It offers a cost-efficient method to rule out drug usage across most samples; however, to be court-admissible, a positive screen requires confirmation. Presumptive positive samples in Screening necessitate further confirmation testing.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. This phase involves removing drugs from hair at reduced concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which contributes to the complexity of hair drug analysis.

Any positive Screening results undergo Confirmation using methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is rigorously evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug analysis:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Minimal chance of falsification: Hair drug tests are challenging to falsify, ensuring more reliable results.
• Chronological data: They outline a usage pattern over a timeframe, rather than just recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Recent use undetectable: It generally requires 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug analyses tend to be pricier than alternative methods.
• Result variability: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing hair follicle tests with traditional urine tests in Centerton, AR, it's evident that hair testing offers superior benefits. They provide a longer detection period and greater accuracy, making them preferable for employers seeking reliable screening measures. Hair tests' resistance to adulteration further enhances trust in their results.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle tests is a significant advantage in Centerton, AR. By capturing drug use over a span of up to 90 days, these tests afford a thorough insight into an individual's substance history, aiding employers in making informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Centerton, AR greatly minimize the potential for sample tampering. Their tamper-resistant nature ensures reliable and authentic results, providing peace of mind to employers and protecting the integrity of testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of Accredited Drug Testing's nationwide and local locations in Centerton, AR, ensures that accessing testing services is quick and hassle-free. With numerous locations available, clients can enjoy simplified, efficient testing processes.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Centerton, AR, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. From ordering to testing and receiving results, privacy remains paramount, guaranteeing user ease and safeguarding individual data every step of the way.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Hair follicle drug testing in Centerton, AR features affordable pricing and quick turnaround times, providing superior value for companies, large or small, ensuring financial feasibility while maintaining rigorous testing standards.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Centerton, AR, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests detect substance use with unmatched precision, providing results that are both quick and trust-worthy, thereby ensuring individuals receive a definitive assessment regarding drug use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Centerton, AR benefit from compliance and enhanced workplace safety through hair follicle testing. This method assures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks and fostering a safer 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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