Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hickory Plains, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a detailed, prolonged account of alcohol and drugs by holding onto biomarkers within the growing hair strand's fibers. When taken close to the scalp, hair offers roughly a 3-month detection duration for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat tough to tamper with, and easy to send.

A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect quantity for analysis and verification. For EtG enhancements and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in processing a drug test laboratory result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial sample processing phase into a lab’s system. This step includes verifying that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any additional data entry that an electronic chain of custody system does not cover.

Screening is an initial rapid test for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in the majority of cases, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples that show a presumptive positive result in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive result during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is the most rigorous method.

Confirmation of any positive result from Screening is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, while urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is notably challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, making the results more reliable.
• Generates historical insights: It can lay out a timeline of drug use, rather than merely recent intake.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent intake: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand instead of the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Hickory Plains, AR, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing by offering unmatched detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests provide an extensive history of drug use, revealing insights over a significantly longer period.

Moreover, the accuracy of hair testing minimizes error rates, establishing it as a more dependable choice for employers and legal matters.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Hickory Plains, AR, provide a longer detection window, capable of identifying drug usage over a 90-day span. This extended period gives employers a thorough view of a candidate or employee's substance use history.

Employers benefit from the broader assessment, ensuring that a more comprehensive understanding is available for decision-making processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Hickory Plains, AR, the hair follicle testing method offers a significant reduction in the possibility of sample tampering. This approach delivers results that are both reliable and difficult to dispute.

The integrity of the tests ensures that outcomes reflect a true representation of substance consumption, making the hair follicle method a credible option for stakeholders.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing centers located across the nation and locally in Hickory Plains, AR, accessing our services is efficient and hassle-free. Our widespread locations ensure that testing can be done quickly and conveniently.

Clients benefit from the simplicity and ease of finding a testing site nearby, facilitating seamless participation in the testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our testing process in Hickory Plains, AR, is straightforward and private, addressing privacy concerns effectively. The simple ordering, testing, and result retrieval process reassures users of confidentiality.

By prioritizing ease and discretion, we ensure that stakeholders can access testing services without compromise or concern.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Hickory Plains, AR, we offer competitive pricing for hair follicle testing, combined with fast result turnaround times. This combination of affordability and efficiency provides exceptional value to companies of all sizes.

Our cost-effective solutions enhance organizational trust, reinforcing why we're a preferred choice for drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Hickory Plains, AR, sets a benchmark for delivering swift, precise, and trustworthy outcomes. It excels in detecting substance usage with high accuracy, providing results that are both reliable and verifiable.

The integrity and speed of this testing approach ensure stakeholders receive detailed insights without delay, reinforcing the confidence placed in its capabilities.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employing hair follicle testing in Hickory Plains, AR, helps businesses align with drug-free workplace policies. This compliance reduces legal risks and enhances overall workplace safety, offering peace of mind for employers.

By implementing such robust testing measures, companies can avoid potential liabilities and focus on creating a safe working environment.

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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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