Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Jerome, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It provides a prolonged record of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the strands as hair grows. When samples are collected near the scalp, they can offer up to a 3-month timeframe for identifying alcohol and drug use. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively tamper-resistant, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion containing about 200 hair strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields approximately 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG and additional tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It's advisable to measure the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent volume of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary phases in lab processing for a drug test result encompass Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning constitutes the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab's processes. This step confirms that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary assessment to identify drug abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in most cases, a positive screen must be verified for legal admissibility. Samples that test positive through Screening necessitate further confirmation.

For samples that yield a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are drawn from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other tests (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging process.

Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation as required. The comprehensive lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is judged under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to 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 that have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to tamper with: Hair drug tests are extremely tamper-resistant, offering more reliable results.
• Provides usage history: It captures a drug use trend across time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: A minimum of 5-7 days is necessary for drugs to be detected in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to have higher costs compared to other testing techniques.
• Result variations: Differences such as hair color and personal hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing holds several advantages over traditional urine tests in Jerome, AR. Accuracy and reliability stand out as hair tests can detect a wider range of substances with minimal risk of adulteration. Their enhanced sensitivity ensures that even low-level drug use is identified.

Hair tests offer a longer detection window, typically covering up to 90 days of substance use history. For employers, this comprehensive detection capability is invaluable for understanding an applicant or employee's substance use profile.

Extended Detection Window

Extended detection windows make hair follicle testing a powerful tool in Jerome, AR for capturing long-term substance use. Employers gain a detailed understanding of an individual's drug history, offering valuable insights into behavioral patterns.

Covering up to 90 days, hair testing goes beyond immediate use and spotlights consistent substance use, supporting more informed employment decisions based on comprehensive drug history data.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Jerome, AR are highly tamper-resistant, significantly reducing the risks associated with sample adulteration that are more common in other testing methods. This reliability ensures that results are straightforward and unquestionable.

Hair samples, unlike urine, are difficult to manipulate without detection, providing confidence in the outcomes and supporting fair assessments of substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Offering convenient testing locations across Jerome, AR and nationwide, clients have easy access to testing services without the hassle. Accredited Drug Testing ensures proximity and accessibility, facilitating quick and simple test appointments.

Our nationwide network ensures that whether local or remote, testing is never far away, making it seamless for individuals and companies alike to utilize our services efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Jerome, AR is simple and confidential. From ordering to taking and receiving results, the procedure is designed with privacy in mind, addressing any concerns about personal data protection.

This streamlined approach ensures that every step is straightforward and user-friendly, alleviating any stress associated with drug testing and safeguarding client information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and fast turnaround times make hair follicle testing in Jerome, AR an appealing option. Our pricing structure provides excellent value, without compromising quality or speed of service.

We understand the needs of businesses both large and small, offering affordability without sacrificing the integrity and reliability of our testing methods, ensuring great value.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and precision of hair follicle tests are unmatched. In Jerome, AR, the process is streamlined to ensure rapid turnaround times, so results are delivered promptly. This efficiency doesn't compromise accuracy, making hair follicle testing a top choice for those needing precise and timely drug testing.

Hair tests boast high accuracy due to their ability to capture drug metabolites embedded within the hair shaft, reducing the chance of false negatives or positives and providing reliable results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Jerome, AR find peace of mind using hair follicle testing to maintain drug-free workplaces. This method aligns with compliance mandates, curbing legal exposures linked to workplace substance use.

The integrity of hair sample testing upholds policy standards, ensuring safety and reliability within the workplace environment, creating a productive and healthy work setting.

Drug Testing Near Jerome, AR

Tillar, AR

Selma, AR

Martinville, AR

Parkdale, AR

Ladelle, AR

McGehee, AR

Mist, AR

Jennie, AR

Chicot, AR

Halley, AR

Lake Village, AR

Portland, AR

Dermott, AR

Montrose, AR

Boydell, 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