Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cornerstone, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of substances by embedding biomarkers within the hair strands as they grow. When snipped near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection timeline spanning up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment made up of approximately 200 hair strands (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg, optimal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplementary panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advised. It is suggested to gauge the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair may be utilized. The term "head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair, while "body hair" denotes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing for a drug test result comprises four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial intake of a sample into a laboratory's system. This process ensures the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigns it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data input not integrated by an electronic custody chain system.

Screening offers a preliminary rapid assessment for drug presence. Though Screening is cost-efficient for negating drug presence in the majority of samples, a confirmed positive is needed for legal acceptability. Thus, samples preliminarily positive in Screening require a subsequent confirmation.

In cases where a sample tests preliminarily positive in the Screening phase, additional hair from the initial batch is processed for Extraction. This phase extracts drugs from hair at concentrations much lower than those in other testing methods such as urine or oral fluid, marking hair drug analysis as the most complex testing methodology.

Confirmation for any sample with a positive screen result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed pre-confirmation if warranted. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug testing can identify drug use over a 90-day duration, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection timeline.
• Impediment to tampering: Hair drug tests are hard to manipulate, boosting the accuracy of results.
• Provides temporal data: It offers a historical pattern of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Aspects such as hair color and individual disparities in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Often it is termed as "hair follicle tests," yet the test evaluates the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing hair follicle testing with more conventional urine analysis, hair testing clearly offers superior detection capabilities. In Cornerstone, AR, it provides enhanced accuracy and reliability, ensuring that even past substance use is recorded. This makes it a valuable tool for those requiring a stringent screening process, outperforming the limited detection window of urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

The hair follicle drug testing method in Cornerstone, AR, allows for an extended detection window, covering up to 90 days of substance use history. This comprehensive perspective is instrumental for employers to thoroughly understand an individual's drug use habits, providing clarity over a longer time frame than urine tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Cornerstone, AR, offer a testing method that is highly resistant to tampering. The secure sample collection process minimizes the possibility of adulteration, ensuring that the results are reliable and beyond dispute. This enhances the credibility of the testing process compared to other methods that might be prone to manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing boasts a vast network of nationwide facilities alongside local testing centers in Cornerstone, AR. This ensures convenient and hassle-free access to testing services, offering a streamlined process for drug and alcohol screening without any undue travel or delay.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Cornerstone, AR, is designed to be straightforward and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, the procedure is tailored to maintain privacy and ease. This alleviates concerns over data security and user-friendly experiences, enhancing trust in the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and quick turnaround for hair follicle tests in Cornerstone, AR, offer substantial value to organizations of all sizes. Balancing affordability with industry-leading speed, Accredited Drug Testing stands out as a cost-effective partner in maintaining drug-free workplace environments.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cornerstone, AR, the precision and efficiency of hair follicle drug tests stand out. These tests provide fast and reliable results, ensuring individuals or employers receive definitive answers. With the capability to detect a range of substances accurately, the reliability of these tests makes them an ideal choice for those seeking timely and trustworthy results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Cornerstone, AR, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free policies. It not only reduces legal risks but also bolsters workplace safety. Implementing this testing method provides employers with peace of mind, knowing they have chosen a system that aligns with rigorous safety and compliance standards.

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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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