Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cornerville, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair analyses have emerged as an effective approach for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a long-term profile for alcohol and drugs by retaining biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, hair can present about a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches, with around 200 strands (close to the size of a #2 pencil) from the scalp, will provide 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest employing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is missing, a similar amount of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other hair types (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The procedure for processing a drug test in the lab consists of four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s frameworks. This phase ensures the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any outstanding data entry not incorporated into an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs a rapid initial assessment for drug abuse. While Screening can be a cost-effective measure to exclude drug usage for most samples, confirming a positive screen is essential for court admittance. Samples showing presumptive positive results in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

For samples with presumptive positives at the Screening step, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are isolated from the hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening a particularly challenging method to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening result takes place through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples showing presumptive positives are cleaned prior to confirmation if needed. The full lab process from Accessioning through to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can discover drug usage up to 90 days in retrospect, as opposed to urine tests which carry a shorter detection window.
• Hard to manipulate: Manipulating the results of a hair drug test is quite difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Gives historical insight: It can showcase a drug usage timeline over a period, not only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot reveal recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests frequently cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can affect the drug metabolites' concentration within hair.

Note: While frequently called "hair follicle tests," the examination focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers unparalleled advantages over traditional urine tests in Cornerville, AR. The superior detection accuracy solidifies its position as a reliable choice.

While urine tests have their uses, hair testing's ability to provide a comprehensive analysis of drug use history stands out, ensuring robust compliance and decision-making.

Employers in Cornerville, AR benefit from the extended detection window of hair tests, surpassing urine testing capabilities.

Extended Detection Window

In Cornerville, AR, hair follicle testing's extended detection window of up to 90 days provides a comprehensive insight into an individual's substance use history.

This longer timeframe is vital for employers seeking to maintain a substance-free workplace, offering more extensive data than other testing methods.

Hair testing allows businesses in Cornerville to understand better and manage employee habits, contributing to safer working environments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle test is a tamper-resistant method, significantly reducing sample adulteration risks in Cornerville, AR.

With a robust collection process, hair testing ensures reliable and unquestionable results, giving employers confidence in their testing practices.

For accurate and secure drug testing, Cornerville's employers choose hair tests, minimizing the possibility of compromised results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Cornerville, AR, our nationwide testing centers offer convenient access to drug testing services, ensuring minimal disruptions.

Local and national centers simplify the process, offering quick and hassle-free service whether in Cornerville or elsewhere.

Accredited Drug Testing's widespread locations provide residents with unmatched convenience for their testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Cornerville, AR, the process of ordering and receiving results from hair tests is simple and confidential.

Addressing privacy concerns, we streamline the procedure, ensuring ease of use for all participants without compromising confidentiality.

The straightforward process reassures Cornerville residents of secure and private handling of their drug testing needs.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable pricing and swift turnaround for drug tests in Cornerville, AR, without compromising quality.

Our competitive pricing structure provides exceptional value to companies of all sizes, ensuring cost-effective solutions.

Fast turnaround times enhance business efficiency, making hair testing an attractive and practical option in Cornerville.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and speed define hair follicle drug tests in Cornerville, AR. Renowned for their high accuracy, these tests excel in detecting substance use.

Unlike other methods, hair testing offers rapid and reliable results, minimizing waiting time and enhancing decision-making efficiency for both employers and individuals.

Employers in Cornerville, AR trust hair tests for their swift results, ensuring minimal disruption to operations while maintaining high accuracy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Cornerville, AR employers, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing potential legal risks.

Employers gain peace of mind knowing this method enhances workplace safety, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining a secure environment.

Adopting hair testing aligns with Cornerville's businesses' dedication to stringent 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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