Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Summit, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as a robust tool for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers an extensive history of alcohol and drug intake by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair fiber as it grows. Collected near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month history of alcohol and drug use. It's easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (resembling a #2 pencil in size) from the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and those beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. A jeweler's scale is recommended for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, equivalent body hair can be taken. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types (like facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning starts with logging a sample into the lab’s system, ensuring the sample’s seal and shipment are intact, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry absent in the electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes a preliminary inspection for drugs of abuse. While cost-effective for ruling out drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be court-admissible. Any specimens that test presumptive positive during Screening need further confirmation.

Samples testing presumptive positive in Screening have additional hair extracted from the specimen for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is notably challenging to perform.

Confirmation of a positive screen is accomplished using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as needed. The full process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests identify drug use over a 90-day span, whereas urine tests have a briefer detection timeframe.
• Hard to tamper: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: Provides a drug usage pattern over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Delayed detection: Drugs typically become identifiable in hair after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Summit, AR, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests due to its superior detection timelines and reliability. The extended detection period of up to 90 days offers a more comprehensive perspective on an individual's substance use history compared to urine tests, which are limited to shorter periods.

This improved detection accuracy makes hair testing a preferred choice among employers looking to maintain a drug-free work environment.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests employed in Summit, AR give employers a prolonged detection window of up to 90 days. This comprehensive view offers a complete picture of an applicant or employee's past substance use, facilitating informed hiring or retention decisions.

This extended timeframe is invaluable in creating a thorough understanding of long-term usage patterns, enhancing workplace safety and compliance.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method in Summit, AR is esteemed for its tamper-resistant nature. The structure of the test significantly reduces the chances of sample tampering or adulteration, providing reliable and accurate results.

Such robustness ensures that the results obtained are unequivocal and trustworthy, adding an extra layer of assurance in situations where test integrity is paramount.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing centers located conveniently close by, Accredited Drug Testing makes accessing hair follicle testing in Summit, AR effortless and stress-free. Our nationwide presence ensures that no matter where you are, testing services are both easy and quick to access.

This accessibility ensures efficient service delivery, enhancing the testing experience for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of undergoing a hair follicle test in Summit, AR is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving the results, everything is handled with ease and privacy in mind.

This streamlined approach addresses any concerns regarding confidentiality and user-friendliness, ensuring the process is worry-free.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing structures, hair follicle testing in Summit, AR is both affordable and efficient. Organizations of all sizes enjoy great value with our quick turnaround times and reasonable costs.

These advantages make our testing services accessible to many, without sacrificing quality or expediency in obtaining test results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests conducted in Summit, AR are distinguished by their fast and reliable outcomes, providing precision and accuracy in detecting substance use. Their high accuracy ensures dependable results, giving you confidence in the testing process and its findings.

Employing the hair follicle method gives a swift turnaround, allowing individuals and organizations to benefit from timely insights into substance use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Summit, AR benefit from hair follicle drug testing by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal exposure. The reliable results gleaned from this testing method contribute to creating a safer workplace.

Adopting hair tests offers peace of mind, knowing that the screening process supports a healthier and legally compliant work culture.

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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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