Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Murray, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments are recognized as a significant means for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of intoxicants by confining biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When acquired from near the scalp, hair can offer a detection duration of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to send.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the ideal specimen for both screening and verification. For EtG, supplementary, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is suggested. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be obtained. By head hair, we imply only scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the primary step, where a sample is organized within a laboratory’s system. This involves ensuring the sample is sealed and transported correctly, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any further data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody.

Screening entails an initial examination for substance abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for court admissibility. Samples that yield presumptive positive results in Screening need a secondary verification.

If a sample gives a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, substances are removed from hair at a concentration significantly lower than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluids), which accounts for the challenge in performing hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary prior to confirmation. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection window.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test is quite difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides usage pattern: It can illustrate a timeline of drug use rather than only recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent intake: Drugs require 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests often cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis uses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Murray, AR

In Murray, AR, hair follicle testing stands out against traditional urine testing. This method ensures superior detection accuracy over a longer period, making it highly reliable. The benefits include its extensive detection window and resistance to tampering, something urine tests cannot match, offering a more comprehensive assessment of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Murray, AR

Hair follicle testing in Murray, AR identifies drug usage over an extensive period, approximately 90 days. This broad detection span provides employers with detailed insight into an applicant's or employee's drug history. The test's capability of long-term substance detection ensures an in-depth evaluation not possible with some other testing forms.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Murray, AR

In Murray, AR, hair follicle tests minimize the risk of sample tampering significantly. This testing method is engineered to provide irrefutable and trustworthy results, given its resilience against adulteration. This assurance positions hair testing as a dependable choice for those valuing integrity in their testing procedures.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Murray, AR

The nationwide reach of our testing centers makes drug screening services accessible and straightforward in Murray, AR. With facilities available locally and across the country, the convenience of hair follicle testing ensures a hassle-free experience for individuals and employers alike, leading to expedited service.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Murray, AR

Due to its straightforward nature, the hair follicle testing process in Murray, AR is both simple and confidential. This process commits to user privacy, making ordering, testing, and result collection seamless and discreet. Users can alleviate privacy concerns, knowing their data is handled with care and efficiency.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Murray, AR

The hair follicle testing in Murray, AR offers competitive pricing with quick turnaround times. Such advantages provide significant value to businesses, regardless of size, looking for cost-effective solutions. The combination of affordability and speed ensures clients receive quality service without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Murray, AR

Hair follicle drug tests offer precision and speed, making them a preferred choice in Murray, AR. Their high accuracy rates in detecting substance use ensure that the results are trustworthy. Compared to other testing methods, hair tests provide quick turnarounds while maintaining detail-oriented scrutiny that in turn offers peace of mind.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Murray, AR

Hair follicle testing aids employers in Murray, AR in upholding drug-free workplace policies effectively. By reducing legal risks and bolstering workplace safety, this testing method ensures organizations remain compliant, thereby offering tranquility and security to business owners and staff members alike.

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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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