Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Tull, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a robust approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and drug use by preserving biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When sampled near the scalp, hair can reveal up to an approximate three-month window for drug and alcohol detection. Its collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising roughly 200 hair strands (similar in thickness to a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. If scalp hair cannot be collected, an equivalent quantity of body hair is acceptable. The term head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes facial, axillary, and other types of hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory process for obtaining a drug test result is comprised of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system, verifying the appropriate sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any additional information not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary rapid evaluation for drug presence. While being an economical method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be legally valid. Samples testing presumptively positive in Screening require a subsequent confirmation.

In the event of a presumptively positive result during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. During this phase, drug compounds are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening notably challenging to execute.

Any positive results during the screening phase undergo Confirmation through techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, presumptive positive samples are washed as required. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is subject to review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days in the past, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection timeframe.
• Difficult to evade: Cheating a hair drug test is challenging, thus ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers historical insight: It outlines a pattern of drug use over time rather than only recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to ascertain recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal hair growth patterns can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often labeled as "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on 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 Tull, AR: Hair testing offers several advantageous features over customary urine tests. In particular, it demonstrates superior accuracy and reliability. The technique involves a non-invasive sampling process that's simple yet highly effective. With its extended detection period, hair testing captures a wider window of drug use history.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Tull, AR provides an extended detection window that can identify substance usage for up to 90 days. This remarkable duration allows employers to gain a more thorough understanding of an individual’s substance use history, aiding in better decision-making and fostering a drug-free workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Tull, AR: Hair follicle tests significantly decrease the chances of sample tampering, thus offering reliable results. With this method, individuals have limited means to alter the test outcome, making it a trustworthy choice for employers and organizations enforcing drug policies. This accuracy ensures peace of mind for entities requiring stringent testing conditions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Offering convenient nationwide testing locations, including Tull, AR, our centers are easily accessible to provide swift and hassle-free access to testing services. This network aids in reducing wait times and ensures prompt service, thereby simplifying the drug testing process for both individuals and businesses.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Tull, AR is designed to be simple and confidential. Ordering, taking the test, and receiving results are straightforward steps, reassuring users of their privacy and the test's ease of use. Clients benefit from discreet handling and efficient processing of their personal information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With affordable pricing and fast turnaround in Tull, AR, our hair follicle testing services provide excellent value for companies of all sizes. Competitive pricing structures combined with quick delivery of results make this testing option a practical and worthwhile investment for employers prioritizing workplace safety and compliance.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Tull, AR, hair follicle testing is renowned for its fast, accurate, and reliable results. This testing method provides exceptional accuracy in detecting substance use, far surpassing traditional methods. It is trusted by businesses and organizations for its precision and effectiveness, streamlining the drug testing process and ensuring dependable outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Tull, AR, hair follicle testing ensures compliance and peace of mind for employers. By utilizing hair tests, companies achieve compliance with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal challenges. The method's integrity helps sustain a safe and productive work environment, reassuring employers about their workforce's wellbeing.

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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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