Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hensley, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a significant method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can encapsulate biomarkers within the strands as it grows, thereby offering a long-standing record of alcohol and drug presence. When samples are taken near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol history for nearly three months. Collecting hair is hassle-free, tampering with it is somewhat challenging, and it can be shipped with ease.

A 1.5-inch section comprising roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirming. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10-panel, it is advisable to gather 150mg. We suggest measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equal amount of body hair can be utilized. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties like facial, axillary, etc.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing for drug test results consists of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation as the key steps.

Accessioning refers to the preliminary handling of a sample within a laboratory’s framework. This encompasses ensuring the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data not covered by an electronic chain of custody process.

Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is cost-effective to exclude drug use in most specimens, any positive findings need confirmation to be valid for legal purposes. Specimens that are tentatively positive during Screening require follow-up confirmation.

Should a test sample be tentatively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for further Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are withdrawn from hair at lower concentrations in comparison to other methods like urine or saliva, making hair drug screening a notably intricate procedure.

For any positive screening outcomes, Confirmation is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All tentatively positive samples undergo washing before the confirmation process where necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning through to Confirmation aligns with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliant with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use extending up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which offer a shorter timeframe.
• Challenging to falsify: Hair drug tests are difficult to manipulate, increasing result precision.
• Historical use records: This method indicates drug use trends over time, beyond merely current use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent usage: Drug presence in hair takes about 5-7 days to become evident.
• Expense: Hair drug testing often incurs more costs compared to other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite being termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis involves the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Triumphs over urine tests in Hensley, AR lies in its superior detection accuracy. Hair tests provide a more meticulous look at an individual's history, leaving urine tests behind in terms of long-term detection and reliability. This makes hair testing ideal for those seeking a comprehensive evaluation of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

One outstanding attribute of hair follicle testing in Hensley, AR is its Extended Detection Window. While urine tests are limited in their timeframe, hair tests can trace drug use up to 90 days. This longer window gives employers a wide-angle view of a person's substance use history, guiding better hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Hensley, AR, the confidence that comes with a Tamper-Resistant testing method is unrivaled. Hair follicle tests offer security against sample tampering, ensuring that the findings are dependable and accurate. This quality makes them a trustworthy option for drug testing, protecting the integrity of the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Finding Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations including Hensley, AR, ensures quick and hassle-free access to services. Our widespread centers guarantee that testing is accessible and efficient for everyone, ensuring that geographic boundaries do not hinder the testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

Experience a Simple, Confidential Process for hair follicle testing in Hensley, AR. From appointment scheduling to receiving results, everything is designed to maintain privacy and ease. This process assures individuals that their information remains protected while still being straightforward and user-friendly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With our Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Hensley, AR, businesses receive great value. Quick results combined with cost-effective solutions make hair follicle testing an attractive option for companies of varying sizes, offering reassurance and budget-conscious testing options.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle testing make it a trusted choice for detecting substance use in Hensley, AR. Precision is critical, and this method delivers detailed insights swiftly. Not only does it offer a clear picture of substance use history, but also ensures reliable results that professionals can count on for making informed decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Hensley, AR provides Compliance and Peace of Mind for employers. By aligning with workplace drug policies, these tests help minimize legal risks and foster a safer work environment. Ensuring adherence to regulations enhances both workplace integrity and safety.

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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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