Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pearcy, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair offers an extended history of substance use by encapsulating biomarkers within its strands. When taken near the scalp, hair can indicate alcohol and drug presence for a period of up to three months. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is easy.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches in length, comprising about 200 strands (about the size of a #2 pencil), yields approximately 100mg, ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advised. Use a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement. If scalp hair is unavailable, body hair in an equivalent amount can be used. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample within a lab’s framework. This step ensures that the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening acts as an initial quick test to identify substance abuse. While it serves as a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, positive screens must be confirmed for court admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening undergo a secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly reduced concentration than in other testing methods (such as urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is regulated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and conformance 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, as opposed to the shorter window of urine tests.
• Hard to tamper with: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: Provides an overview of drug use patterns over time, unlike assessments focused solely on recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent use detection: Detection of drugs in hair requires approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: External factors, such as hair color and individual growth rates, may influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Pearcy, AR, hair follicle testing stands out for its superior detection capacity when compared to traditional urine tests. Accuracy plays a vital role, as hair tests eliminate the risk of sample tampering, offering precise results. Employers increasingly use hair testing to unearth substance use histories that urine tests might miss.
Reliability is key, as hair follicle testing leaves a little room for discrepancy.

Extended Detection Window

One major benefit of hair follicle testing in Pearcy, AR, is its extensive detection window. Unlike other methods, hair tests expose drug use over 90 days, granting employers a comprehensive assessment of an employee’s or applicant’s substance habits. This extended detection period far surpasses that of urine tests, offering detailed usage insights.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Pearcy, AR, ensures unmatched reliability. This method drastically lowers the chance of sample altercation, providing decisive, foolproof results. Such resistance to tampering secures unquestionable authenticity of the data, benefitting employers in enforcing stringent no-drug policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures convenience with nationwide testing locations, including Pearcy, AR. This network facilitates ease and accessibility for individuals needing hair tests, making the process hassle-free. Secure, nearby centers eliminate unnecessary travel, providing test seekers with prompt services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Pearcy, AR, is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, each step prioritizes privacy and ease of use, assuaging any privacy concerns. This seamless process ensures that all test participants remain confident and comfortable, knowing their information stays secure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

At Accredited Drug Testing in Pearcy, AR, competitive pricing and fast turnaround times lay the cornerstone for valuable service. Offering affordable testing solutions ensures that companies, regardless of size, gain excellent service and prompt results, empowering them with information to maintain workforce integrity.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug testing in Pearcy, AR, speak volumes. Known for their fast and reliable results, these tests detect drug consumption accurately. With high accuracy, hair testing ensures employers receive trustworthy data on substance use, aiding in informed decision-making. Hair testing's speed enables quicker workplace responses.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance with workplace drug-free policies brings peace of mind to Pearcy, AR employers. Hair follicle testing supports this goal by effectively upholding such policies, minimizing legal liabilities. Furthermore, it promotes a safe workplace ambiance, fostering a healthier, more productive environment through vigilant substance monitoring.

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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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