Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Prescott, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures prolonged history of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the hair shaft as it grows. When collected near the scalp, the hair can offer an approximate 3-month detection timeframe for both alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, not easily adulterated, and simple to send.

An optimal screening and confirmation sample is a 1.5-inch section comprising about 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, providing 100mg of hair. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. Measuring the specimen on a jeweler’s scale is recommended. If scalp hair isn’t accessible, a comparable quantity of body hair can be obtained. Head hair pertains only to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial step where a sample is processed into the lab’s system. This process ensures the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigns a unique Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and addresses any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary check for drug abuse. Although Screening provides a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result mandates confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples testing positive in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction preparation. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening a complex technique.

Confirmation of any positive initial screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as needed. The entire Accessioning to Confirmation laboratory process is subject to review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection durations.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical usage data: It reveals a pattern of drug usage over time, beyond just immediate use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect immediate use: Drugs only become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically incurs higher costs than other methods.
• Inconsistencies in outcomes: Drug metabolite levels in hair can vary due to factors like hair color and individual growth variations.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the test itself assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Prescott, AR Hair follicle tests offer superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. One notable advantage is their extensive detection window, capturing a history of up to 90 days, making them highly reliable. They are nearly impossible to tamper with, providing greater assurance over standard urine tests, which have a more limited detection period.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Prescott, AR Hair follicle testing provides a substantial advantage by offering a detection window of up to 90 days. This extended timeframe allows employers to better understand an individual's substance use history, making it an invaluable tool for assessing the suitability of applicants or monitoring current employees effectively.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Prescott, AR Hair follicle tests significantly decrease the potential for sample tampering. Given the challenging nature of altering or substituting hair samples, these tests ensure results remain trustworthy and indisputable, providing a level of reliability that is often unmatched by other testing methodologies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Prescott, AR With an extensive network of testing centers nationwide, accessing hair follicle testing services has never been more straightforward. Whether you're in a bustling city or a quiet town like Prescott, our locations guarantee ease of access to essential testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Prescott, AR Our process for ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results is both straightforward and confidential. We prioritize privacy at each stage to ensure peace of mind for all clients, addressing potential concerns with effortless and discreet service.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Prescott, AR Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times make hair follicle testing an excellent choice for businesses of all sizes. By blending affordability with quick results, we deliver outstanding value, alleviating concerns about testing expenses with our efficient service model.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Prescott, AR Offering rapid and dependable outcomes, hair follicle drug tests are known for their high accuracy in determining substance use. Individuals seeking conclusive evidence can rely on the efficiency and precision these tests provide, ensuring timely and exact results vital for professional or legal requirements.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Prescott, AR Implementing hair follicle testing helps employers align with workplace drug-free policies, thereby minimizing legal liabilities. It ensures a safer work environment by deterring substance abuse, offering employers peace of mind and building a trustworthy and productive workforce.

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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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