Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Jamestown, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a timeline for alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the strands of hair. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeframe of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. It's easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprised of roughly 200 hair strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, yields 100mg, the preferred amount for screening and verification. For EtG, extra panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. Use a jeweler’s scale for precise measurement. When scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair should be taken. "Head hair" refers solely to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key phases in processing a drug test at the lab entail Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the sample’s initial integration into the laboratory’s system. This step includes ensuring proper sealing and shipping of the sample, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data required that isn’t captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening allows for an expedited check for drugs. While Screening is a practical method to discount drug usage in most samples, any positive findings must be verified to be considered valid in legal situations. Any samples with a presumptive positive Screening result need secondary verification.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair in far lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which is why hair drug testing poses the greatest challenge.

Confirmation for any positive Screening is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives undergo washing as necessary prior to confirmation. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is challenging, lending more reliability to the results.
• Shows usage history: It displays a history of drug consumption over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent usage: Drugs generally become detectable in hair about 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be more costly than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is done on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Jamestown, AR, hair follicle testing stands out as superior to urine tests. Advantages include a detection window of up to 90 days, contrasting with the limited timeframe urine tests offer. Hair tests provide greater accuracy and reliability, making them ideal for stringent workplace policies and legal requirements, ensuring only trustworthy outcomes.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Jamestown, AR offers unparalleled detection capabilities, extending to 90 days, which is far longer than conventional tests. This extended window equips employers with a thorough understanding of an individual's drug history, enhancing their decision-making process. This method outshines others by providing a comprehensive look into long-term substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Jamestown, AR, hair follicle tests are designed to be tamper-resistant, reducing the risk of sample alteration. This method delivers unquestionable results, as the ability to cheat or adulterate the sample is significantly minimized. Employers gain confidence and assurance in the reliability of the test outcomes, promoting a trustworthy hiring process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Jamestown, AR benefits from our extensive network of nationwide testing locations, offering convenience and accessibility. This ensures efficient and hassle-free access to drug testing services, simplifying the entire process for individuals and businesses. The ease of availability across locations makes getting a test straightforward and approachable.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Jamestown, AR, for hair follicle testing is simple and confidential. Requesting a test, participating in it, and receiving results is designed to prioritize privacy and ease. This approach addresses any privacy concerns while ensuring the process is straightforward, thus encouraging individuals to readily comply with testing requirements.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our services in Jamestown, AR come with competitive pricing and quick result turnaround, delivering exceptional value to companies. These attributes offer peace of mind and fiscal responsibility, allowing businesses to manage testing effectively without sacrificing speed or accuracy. This balance ensures a quality service accessible to companies of all scales.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and rapid results of hair follicle tests in Jamestown, AR ensure highly accurate substance detection. Accuracy is a hallmark, with the ability to unveil even minor drug traces over extensive periods. Quick turnaround times provide employers the reliability needed for making informed decisions, minimizing downtime and clarifying employee substance use efficiently. 

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Jamestown, AR, assures employers of compliance with drug-free workplace policies. These tests help reduce legal exposure and bolster workplace safety. By integrating these tests, businesses demonstrate their commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and productive environment, underpinning a peace of mind for both employees and employers.

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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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