Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Willow, AR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a prolonged overview of alcohol and other drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the hair fibers as they grow. When samples are taken near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month timeline for alcohol and drug detection. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch lock consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the circumference of a #2 pencil) from the scalp will weigh 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for both preliminary and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additional screenings, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferable. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair alone. Body hair includes other types such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

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

During Accessioning, a sample is initially logged into the laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for signs of drug use. While it's a budget-friendly method to exclude drug usage in most samples, any positive result from Screening needs additional confirmation to be valid in legal proceedings. Presumptively positive samples obtained in Screening must undergo further verification.

Should a sample be presumptively positive during the Screening phase, extra hair is retrieved from the initial batch for the Extraction process. This phase separates drugs from the hair at much reduced concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid testing), which renders hair drug screening as one of the most challenging methods to execute.

Confirmation for any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are cleansed before confirmations as required. The comprehensive process from Accessioning through Confirmation is conducted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and in compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Elongated detection window: Hair drug tests can reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which cover a shorter timespan.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, enhancing result reliability.
• Tracks usage patterns: It offers an overview of drug usage habits over time, not limited to recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect immediate use: Drugs typically become detectable in hair within about 5-7 days.
• Price: Hair drug tests are usually more costly compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence the level of drug metabolites present in the hair.

Note: Although colloquially termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

• Hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests in Willow, AR by delivering longer drug detection windows.
  With superior accuracy, it reduces the risk of false negatives.
• Employers seeking comprehensive insight favor hair tests for clarity and thoroughness in drug history assessments.

Extended Detection Window

In Willow, AR, hair follicle testing's strength lies in its impressive 90-day drug use detection window.
This extensive period offers employers a detailed look into an individual's substance history, proving invaluable in thorough employee evaluations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests greatly diminish tampering chances, enhancing result reliability.
In Willow, AR, these tests ensure dependable outcomes, providing reassurance against sample adulteration, a common issue in other testing methodologies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

• Willow, AR benefits from our expansive nationwide testing locations.
  Convenient centers ensure hassle-free, accessible services, aligning with clients' needs efficiently.
• Local options further streamline the testing procedure, enhancing user experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our Willow, AR processes for hair follicle testing are user-friendly and confidential.
Ordering, conducting, and receiving results is secure and straightforward, addressing privacy concerns with ease.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Willow, AR, competitive pricing and rapid turnaround underscore our commitment to value.
Businesses benefit from affordable hair follicle tests, ensuring timely results without compromising budget.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test in Willow, AR, offers speed and accuracy, swiftly providing clear results with high precision.
Recognized for accurately identifying substance use, hair testing ensures dependable drug detection, setting a standard for reliability and efficacy in modern testing methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Willow, AR supports workplace drug-free policies and compliance.
It enhances safety, minimizes legal risks, and ensures peace of mind for employers by accurately detecting drug use.

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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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