Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mount Pleasant, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It captures a comprehensive timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair as it grows. When taken close to the scalp, such a sample can reveal substance use over an estimated 3-month span. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch hair sample comprising roughly 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) from near the scalp offers 100mg, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation testing. For EtG, additional tests, or panels beyond 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is recommended. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When describing head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair encompasses hair from all other parts (such as facial or axillary).

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test in a lab follows four main phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the initial integration of a sample into the lab’s database, ensuring the sample is sealed and shipped properly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional entries needed beyond what the electronic chain of custody provides.

Screening provides an initial assessment for drugs. Although it serves as a cost-efficient means to rule out substance use in many cases, any positive findings in Screening must be confirmed for legal use. Samples deemed positive in Screening undergo an additional confirmation test.

For samples flagged as presumptive positive during Screening, additional strands are extracted from the original source and readied for Extraction. Here, the drug compounds are isolated from the hair at a notably lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making hair drug analysis one of the more challenging procedures.

Confirmation of a positive screen utilizes GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Samples identified as presumptive positive are washed before Confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to the guidelines set by the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and aligns with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Pros of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a narrower detection range.
• Hard to manipulate: The reliable results make it challenging to falsify a hair drug test.
• Reports usage trends: It details drug use behavior over time, rather than delivering just recent use data.

Drawbacks:

• Cannot detect fresh use: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are often pricier than other testing options.
• Inconsistent results: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth rates can influence metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Despite the common term "hair follicle tests", the analysis is on the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Mount Pleasant, AR:
Comparing hair follicle and urine drug tests reveals superior accuracy and reliability for hair tests. Unlike urine tests, hair tests detect drug usage for up to 90 days, offering a clearer picture of long-term substance habits, critical for employers enforcing zero-tolerance policies.

With hair testing's longer detection times, Mount Pleasant businesses can avoid the limitations of urine tests that fail to reveal extended histories of substance use, ensuring decisions are based on comprehensive assessment.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Mount Pleasant, AR:
Hair follicle tests provide a much longer detection window, identifying drug use over up to 90 days. This extended period gives employers in Mount Pleasant detailed insight into an individual's drug history, improving hiring and monitoring processes.

This extensive window is invaluable for businesses by allowing for thorough assessment and understanding of an employee's or applicant's past substance use, thus enabling more informed decision-making compared to shorter-term methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Mount Pleasant, AR:
Hair follicle testing offers a tamper-resistant approach, significantly reducing the risk of sample adulteration. This makes it a trustworthy option for organizations in Mount Pleasant seeking reliable results without the concern of tampering compromising outcomes.

By choosing hair tests, companies ensure the authenticity and integrity of their drug screening process, which is a fundamental advantage over other testing methods prone to manipulation and false results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Mount Pleasant, AR:
Our extensive network of testing centers ensures convenience and accessibility for drug testing in Mount Pleasant. With nationwide reach, scheduling a test becomes straightforward and hassle-free, saving both time and effort for companies and individuals.
Local availability enhances this ease of access, ensuring timely completion of the testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Mount Pleasant, AR:
The process of ordering and conducting a hair follicle drug test is straightforward and private. Mount Pleasant employers can rely on a confidential system that protects the privacy of all participants while streamlining test administration.

This approach to drug testing simplifies procedures for businesses, ensuring that the confidentiality and ease of service do not sacrifice the reliability and accuracy expected from such essential services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Mount Pleasant, AR:
Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in Mount Pleasant offer exceptional value. Businesses of all sizes can benefit from our cost-effective solutions, ensuring budget considerations are met without compromising quality or timeliness.

Offering impressive value and efficiency, our services accommodate cost-conscious companies seeking reliable testing solutions, facilitating peace of mind and informed decision-making.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Mount Pleasant, AR:
Hair follicle drug tests offer unparalleled precision and speed. Not only do they provide fast results, but their accuracy in identifying substance use is unmatched. This reliability ensures that companies in Mount Pleasant receive the most dependable data about their employee's or applicant's drug use history.

Employers can trust hair follicle drug tests for their unbiased and consistent accuracy. The testing process is streamlined, minimizing wait times significantly, allowing companies to make informed decisions swiftly without compromising quality.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Mount Pleasant, AR:
Utilizing hair follicle testing helps maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks. Employers gain peace of mind knowing they are adhering to regulations while enhancing the overall safety of their environment.

The peace of mind associated with hair testing ensures that stringent drug policies are upheld, further supporting workplace safety and reducing potential liabilities associated with non-compliance.

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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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