Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Eagle Mills, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective instrument for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and drug exposure by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. Collected near the scalp, hair can provide a detection window for alcohol and drugs that spans up to a 3-month period. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) close to the scalp equates to 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG screenings, additional tests, and/or evaluations beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. The specimen is best weighed using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, equivalent body hair may be obtained. References to head hair imply only scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result consists of four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory's system. This encompasses the verification of proper sealing and shipment of the sample, allocation of a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completion of any additional data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial swift assessment for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is cost-efficient for excluding drug use on the majority of samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Any specimens deemed presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Samples testing presumptively positive during Screening undergo further hair extraction from the original specimen for processing in the Extraction stage. In this process, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

The Confirmation of any positive screening is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are subjected to a wash before confirmation as needed. The complete laboratory procedure—from Accessioning to Confirmation—undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is certified to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Lengthy detection span: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection timeline.
• Challenging to manipulate: The tamper-proof nature of hair drug tests ensures more reliable results.
• Offers behavioral insights: Provides a usage pattern over time rather than only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Non-detection of immediate use: Drug visibility in hair requires roughly 5-7 days to manifest.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other testing types.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the assessment actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Eagle Mills, AR
Hair testing offers a significant edge over urine tests by providing an extended detection timeframe and superior accuracy. With a window of up to 90 days, it effectively uncovers long-term drug use patterns that urine tests may miss. This reliability is crucial for employers enforcing strict drug-free policies.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Eagle Mills, AR
Hair follicle testing allows for a comprehensive view of substance use over a longer duration, up to 90 days. This extensive detection window offers employers a deeper insight into an employee's or candidate's drug history, ensuring more informed decisions regarding workplace safety and compliance.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Eagle Mills, AR
The robustness of hair follicle testing lies in its resistance to tampering, ensuring integrity and reliability of results. This method significantly minimizes the risk of sample adulteration, offering unquestionable assurance to employers and legal entities relying on these tests for accurate assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Eagle Mills, AR
Our extensive network of testing centers across the nation, including Eagle Mills, guarantees a seamless and convenient testing experience. With easy access to these services, individuals and employers can efficiently fulfill their testing requirements without hassle.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Eagle Mills, AR
Our approach makes the testing process straightforward and discreet, addressing any privacy concerns. Whether it's ordering, undergoing the test, or receiving results, each step is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring peace of mind through a hassle-free experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Eagle Mills, AR
We offer competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, representing a great value for businesses of all sizes. Our affordable services ensure that companies can maintain high standards of workplace safety without straining their budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Eagle Mills, AR
The precision of hair follicle drug tests is unmatched in Eagle Mills, offering quick and dependable detection of substance use. Compared to traditional methods, hair tests provide superior accuracy, ensuring trustworthy results for employers. This makes them indispensable in evaluating an individual's substance use history effectively.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Eagle Mills, AR
Utilizing hair follicle testing allows employers to assure compliance with strict workplace drug policies. This not only mitigates legal risks but also enhances safety and productivity within the workplace, providing a worry-free environment for both employers and employees.

Drug Testing Near Eagle Mills, AR

Fordyce, AR

Chidester, AR

Sparkman, AR

Elliott, AR

Hampton, AR

Ramsey, AR

Ouachita, AR

Thornton, AR

Woodberry, AR

Camden, AR

Kent, AR

Amy, AR

Bearden, AR

East Camden, AR

Harrell, AR

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews