Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Viola, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective tool for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a long-term record of these substances by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to about 3 months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and uncomplicated to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg, the preferred sample for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the hair sample is advised. It's best to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into the lab's system. This step includes ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any required data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly method to dismiss drug usage for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for it to be legally acceptable. Samples that show a presumptive positive during Screening need secondary verification.

If screening indicates a sample may be positive, more hair from the original specimen is prepared for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening remains the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation of a positive screening outcome is accomplished using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a presumptive positive must be washed before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which have a shorter detection period.
• High difficulty to cheat: It is challenging to bypass a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Historical data provision: It can outline drug use patterns over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Approximately 5-7 days are needed for drugs to be detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Within Viola, AR, hair follicle tests offer significant advantages over traditional urine tests. These tests excel in their superior accuracy and provide an extended detection period, making them a reliable choice for employers in search of comprehensive screening methods.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Viola, AR stands out due to its extended detection period, capable of identifying drug use over 90 days. This enables employers to gain a detailed insight into an employee's substance use history, thus better informing employment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Viola, AR, hair follicle tests greatly diminish the likelihood of sample tampering. This robust testing method ensures the integrity of the results, providing a reliable option against potential adulteration common in other testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Enjoy the ease of access to hair follicle testing services around Viola, AR, and nationwide. The widespread availability of our centers ensures that testing is completed quickly and efficiently, making the process seamless and convenient for everyone.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Viola, AR, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and private. From order to results, every step prioritizes confidentiality and ease of use, allowing clients to partake in testing with no concerns about privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Viola, AR offers competitive pricing and quick results for hair follicle tests. This makes our services accessible to companies of all sizes, delivering value alongside efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Viola, AR yield results that are both fast and accurate, offering unparalleled reliability in detecting substance ingestion. The precision of these tests ensures any drug use with lasting evidence is faithfully identified, ensuring the utmost trustworthiness in testing outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Viola, AR find peace of mind in hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. These tests minimize legal risks and bolster workplace safety, assuring employers of a compliant work environment.

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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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