Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gregory, AR

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record for alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the growing hair's fibers. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer an approximately three-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

Taking a 1.5-inch section containing roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, considered the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest weighing the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When we mention head hair, it is specifically scalp hair. Body hair includes any other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial sample processing into the lab’s system. This step verifies that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes additional data entry lacking in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Even though Screening is a cost-effective method to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be suitable for legal purposes. Any samples that show a preliminary positive in Screening require further confirmation.

Should a sample show a preliminary positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. This process extracts drugs from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging method to perform.

To confirm any positive screening outcomes, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques are used. All presumptive positive samples are washed as needed before confirmation. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and in accordance with accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Hard to tamper with: Cheating on a hair drug test is quite challenging, which enhances result accuracy.
• Reveals past usage patterns: It uncovers drug use patterns over time rather than only recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot reveal recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair only after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentration in hair can be affected by variables such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth.

Note: While occasionally termed "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Gregory, AR Hair follicle testing shows a broader timespan of substance use, offering comprehensive insights. It's not just about detecting drugs – it's about gaining a detailed understanding of any drug history.

With hair testing, the reliability surpasses that of traditional urine tests. Thanks to hair's long-term memory storage, these assessments unveil truths other methods might miss, ensuring more dependable and consistent results overall.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Gregory, AR Hair follicle testing serves as a window into a person’s drug use history for up to 90 days. The method lets employers observe a full spectrum of an individual's substance habits.

This extended period aids employers in making informed hiring or retention decisions, ultimately supporting workplace safety and productivity. It's much more than a short-term analysis—it's a long-range view into substance use behavior.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Gregory, AR Hair follicle drug tests offer a robust defense against sample tampering. Unlike other methods, the collected sample is much more resistant to alteration.

This tamper-resistant approach ensures results are trusted and warrant reliability. By reducing the risk of adulteration, it fosters confidence in its accuracy, creating an indisputable standard for drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Gregory, AR Our extensive network of testing centers nationwide simplifies the process, offering seamless access to required testing services, no matter where you are located.

Whether in Gregory or beyond, our local and widespread points ease the logistics, making it hassle-free for anyone needing a drug test to find a nearby location swiftly.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Gregory, AR From ordering a test to obtaining results, the procedure is both simple and secure, ensuring clients can perform tests confidently, aware of their privacy being protected.

The straightforwardness of our method removes the usual complexities, reinforcing confidentiality, security, and simplicity every step of the process from beginning to end.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Gregory, AR Our competitive pricing models make hair follicle testing accessible, offering significant value for businesses of various sizes.

Alongside affordability, we commit to rapid turnaround times, ensuring that results are delivered promptly, assisting businesses in maintaining swift operational decisions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Gregory, AR Hair follicle drug tests provide speedy and precise results, giving them an edge over other testing methods. Within days, you can accurately determine substance use, helping you make informed decisions quickly.

The high standards of hair testing ensure more reliable results. You can be confident in knowing the outcome is exact, reducing the chance of false readings and enhancing trust in the process.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Gregory, AR Hair follicle testing is key in upholding drug-free policies, severely cutting down any compliance risk. Its accuracy supports legal safety, shielding a company from potential disputes.

This testing method intensifies workplace safety and morale, ensuring that policies are consistently met, paving the way for efficient and peace-filled environments.

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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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