Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Plumerville, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive history of substances by embedding biomarkers within the growing strand layers. When extracted near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A segment measuring 1.5 inches, containing around 200 hair strands (equivalent to the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the head, yields 100mg of hair, the perfect sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional panels, or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We advocate for using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If hair from the scalp cannot be collected, a similar quantity of body hair is permissible. When mentioning head hair, it refers specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample within a lab system. This step includes confirming the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry that isn’t covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening constitutes an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. While Screening provides an economical means to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive outcome necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples appearing positive with Screening require follow-up verification.

Upon a presumptively positive outcome in Screening, additional hair is gathered from the initial collection for Extraction. This involves extracting substances from the hair at a much lower concentration than with other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug testing the most intricate technique to execute.

Positive Screening outcomes undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptively positive samples are cleansed before Confirmation as needed. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug assessments can reveal drug consumption for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, leading to more reliable outcomes.
• Offers historical data: It can outline a drug usage pattern over time, not just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Incapacity to identify recent consumption: There is a lag of around 5-7 days before substances become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug evaluations are usually pricier compared to alternative methods.
• Divergence in findings: Variables like hair color and individual growth rates can impact the drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Commonly known as "hair follicle tests," the procedure examines the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Plumerville, AR
Hair follicle testing stands out in substance detection over traditional urine tests due to its superior accuracy. While urine tests may detect drug use within a short time frame, hair testing offers a more extended view of an individual's drug history. This makes it an excellent choice for workplaces with stringent drug-free policies seeking consistent and reliable results.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Plumerville, AR
One key advantage of hair follicle testing is its extensive detection window, encompassing up to 90 days of drug use. This broad span provides a comprehensive overview of an individual’s substance behavior, ensuring employers can make informed decisions about potential or current employees with a detailed understanding of their history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Plumerville, AR
Hair follicle testing significantly lowers the possibility of sample tampering, offering results that can be trusted beyond doubt. Unlike other methods where adulteration is a concern, hair testing maintains the integrity of the process, ensuring that results reflect true and accurate substance use patterns.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Plumerville, AR
With a wide network of testing centers, our services promise accessibility and ease. Whether in Plumerville or across the country, quick and convenient access to testing is assured, making drug screening an uncomplicated and efficient process for all involved parties.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Plumerville, AR
Our hair follicle testing process is designed for simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering to sample collection and receiving results, each step respects privacy, offering clients the assurance of discreet handling of sensitive information while maintaining ease of use throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Plumerville, AR
By offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, our services deliver exceptional value. Companies, regardless of size, can benefit from our cost-effective solutions and receive rapid results, ensuring business operations continue smoothly without unnecessary financial burden.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Plumerville, AR
Emphasizing precision and speed, hair follicle tests deliver swift and accurate results. With a keen ability to detect a broad spectrum of drugs, they surpass many testing methods in identifying substance use. Their rapid processing helps organizations maintain a secure and drug-free environment efficiently and confidently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Plumerville, AR
Using hair follicle testing aids employers in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies, ultimately reducing potential legal risks. It enhances workplace safety and peace of mind, ensuring a clear adherence to standards that protect both the organization and its employees from substance-related issues.

Drug Testing Near Plumerville, AR

Cedar Creek, AR

Blackwell, AR

Hattieville, AR

Sweet Home, AR

Fourche, AR

Bigelow, AR

Wooster, AR

Houston, AR

Springfield, AR

Oppelo, AR

Conway, AR

Morrilton, AR

Menifee, 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