Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Star City, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a significant resource for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as an extended record of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fiber of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer up to nearly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat tough to alter, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section containing roughly 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg, the necessary amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, extra tests, or analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It’s advised to measure the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent volume of body hair can be collected. When referencing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal four steps in the laboratory analysis of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the primary processing of a specimen within a laboratory’s framework. This involves confirming that the sample was sealed and delivered correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concluding any supplementary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Though Screening is a sufficiently economic means to exclude drug consumption on most specimens, a positive screen must be confirmed to be accepted in court. All specimens that are presumed positive in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

If a specimen is deemed presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is derived from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is notably complex to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 norms.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug screens can identify drug use for up to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests, which have a reduced detection duration.
• Hard to manipulate: It is quite hard to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing the precision of the results.
• Supplies historic information: It can offer a timeline of drug usage over a timespan, not solely recent utilization.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent consumption: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to be detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly compared to other drug testing methods.
• Inconsistencies in outcomes: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle under the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Star City, AR, the advantages of hair testing significantly outweigh those of urine tests. Hair testing provides superior detection accuracy due to its ability to reveal drug use over an extended period. Unlike urine tests, hair testing captures a detailed substance usage history, ensuring reliable outcomes.

Employers and legal entities are increasingly favoring hair follicle tests due to their resistant nature against tampering. They facilitate a more comprehensive detection of drug usage, unlike traditional urine samples which offer a limited timeframe for detection.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Star City, AR, offers a remarkable 90-day detection period, providing an in-depth look into an individual's substance use history. This extended window offers employers a clear perspective on an applicant's past, aiding in informed hiring decisions.

Compared to traditional methods, hair follicle testing presents a much broader timeline for detecting drug usage, allowing organizations to gain a fuller understanding of an individual's consumption patterns, essential for maintaining a safe workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Star City, AR, hair follicle tests are a robust measure against sample tampering. The method minimizes the chance of adulteration, producing results that are both reliable and difficult to contest, which is vital for maintaining integrity in drug testing protocols.

The nature of hair samples makes altering the outcome of these tests nearly impossible, setting a higher standard for credibility in drug screening procedures and ensuring unaltered results that stakeholders can trust.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With a broad network of testing centers nationwide, Accredited Drug Testing simplifies access to drug testing services in Star City, AR. This widespread reach eases the process of locating a suitable facility, making drug testing convenient and straightforward for residents.

The availability of local and national drug testing facilities ensures that individuals and businesses can easily access testing services without the hassle of distant travel, optimizing both time and resources efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing process in Star City, AR, by Accredited Drug Testing is crafted to be both simple and confidential. Ordering a test, participation in the collection process, and receiving the results are streamlined, ensuring ease of use while safeguarding privacy.

Emphasizing confidentiality, the drug testing process addresses privacy concerns by providing a discreet system for individuals to partake in testing, making it both an easy and private experience for all parties involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Star City, AR, Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing structures, ensuring affordability alongside fast turnaround times. The prompt delivery of results paired with reasonable costs provides excellent value for companies of all sizes.

Our cost-effective testing solutions place emphasis on quality and speed, reassuring clients of the superior service excellence synonymous with Accredited Drug Testing, without burdening financial resources.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The reliability and speed of hair follicle drug testing in Star City, AR, make it a popular choice among businesses and organizations. These tests boast a high level of precision, ensuring accurate detection of illegal substances. Their ability to deliver quick and trustworthy results makes them an appealing option for timely substance use assessment.

Hair follicle tests offer a dependable solution for determining substance use due to their meticulous analysis process. This testing method supplies definitive and swift results, allowing employers to promptly make informed decisions about their workforce.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Star City, AR, offers organizations a layer of assurance, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies. By reducing legal challenges and enhancing safety standards, these tests contribute to a peaceful and compliant working environment.

Employers who adopt hair follicle testing can remain confident in their proactive approach to maintaining a drug-free workplace, providing both compliance and peace of mind as part of their organizational safety protocols.

Drug Testing Near Star City, AR

Faith, AR

Kedron, AR

Florence, AR

Gould, AR

Zion, AR

Rye, AR

Moscow, AR

Tamo, AR

Grady, AR

Tyro, AR

Tarry, AR

Cornerville, AR

Glendale, AR

Yorktown, AR

Palmyra, 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