Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lee Creek, AR

What it is, How it works

The assessment of hair has emerged as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands preserve a prolonged record of substance use by integrating biomarkers into the fibers as they grow. When hair is taken from near the scalp, it can supply an approximate 3-month timeframe for the detection of alcohol and various drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, generally resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches with about 200 strands of hair (comparable to a #2 pencil) close to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s balance for weighing the specimen is suggested. If no scalp hair is present, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. The mention of head hair pertains solely to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is related to the initial preparation of a sample into a lab’s system, which includes making sure the sample was sealed and delivered correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary review for the presence of drugs. Screening serves as an economical approach to determine drug usage in most cases, yet a positive result requires validation to be usable in legal proceedings. Any samples with a preliminary positive in Screening need a subsequent confirmation.

If a sample in the Screening stage shows a preliminary positive indication, additional hair from the original sample undergoes preparation for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair but at much lower levels compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging method to conduct.

Any positive result from screening is confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Prior to confirmation, all samples that are presumptively positive undergo necessary washing. The complete laboratory process, spanning from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and in accordance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use over a span of up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection window.
• Difficult to circumvent: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely hard, yielding more trustworthy results.
• Historical insight: It provides an account of drug use patterns over time, not limited solely to recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur more costs than other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Aspects such as hair color and personal differences in hair development can influence the drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite the prevalent term "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing in Lee Creek, AR due to its multifaceted advantages. Unlike the traditional urine test, hair analysis offers an extensive detection window, showcasing drug use history over months rather than days. This profound accuracy and extensive insight make hair tests a superior option for obtaining reliable data.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Lee Creek, AR benefit tremendously from the extensive detection window offered by hair follicle testing. This method provides a comprehensive view of an individual’s drug use over an extended 90-day period. Such insights are valuable for employers striving to assess substance use patterns and history accurately.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the standout advantages of hair follicle testing in Lee Creek, AR is its robust tamper-resistant method. The difficulty in adulterating or manipulating hair samples ensures that the results are reliable and can be trusted to reflect an accurate history of an individual’s substance use, removing doubts about test integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers unparalleled convenience in Lee Creek, AR through nationwide testing centers. Local and easily accessible, these locations provide seamless access to testing services, eliminating the hassle and ensuring that individuals and companies can conduct drug tests quickly and efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Lee Creek, AR, undergoing hair follicle testing is a simple and confidential process. From ordering the test to receiving results, each step is designed for ease and ensures privacy. Concerns of confidentiality are paramount, offering individuals peace of mind throughout the entire testing procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Companies in Lee Creek, AR benefit from affordable pricing and swift turnaround through Accredited Drug Testing. The competitive pricing structure combined with a fast delivery time of results offers excellent value and reassurance to organizations of all sizes, prioritizing both cost-effectiveness and timeliness.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Lee Creek, AR, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their fast, accurate, and reliable results. Precision is paramount, and these tests excel in identifying substance use with high accuracy. This method leverages advanced techniques that ensure results are not only swift but trustworthy, making them an ideal choice for employers seeking trustworthy outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Lee Creek, AR, hair follicle testing for employers guarantees compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By choosing this method, companies enhance workplace safety and reduce legal risks, cultivating an environment of peace of mind and operational security, ensuring that operations remain within legal boundaries.

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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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