Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Newburn, FL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means to identify substance and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged history of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. Collected near the scalp, hair can yield a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and other drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, hard to adulterate, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 strands of hair (approximating the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We recommend utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair may be gathered. When referencing head hair, we solely refer to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal steps involved in the laboratory processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This process includes verifying that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data input not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial swift assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective method to eliminate drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be verified to be permissible in court. Any samples exhibiting positive indications in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If a sample shows presumptive positivity in the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepared for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly reduced concentration compared to other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening is the most complex methodology to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection window.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is highly difficult, resulting in more accurate outcomes.
• Supplies historical data: It can furnish a pattern of drug consumption over a span of time, not solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent usage: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variances: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While frequently referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is done on the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Newburn, FL, offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. While urine tests are limited in their detection window, hair tests provide a much broader overview of an individual's drug use, with a detection period extending up to 90 days. This increased accuracy ensures employers and professionals can rely on hair testing for conclusive and comprehensive substance use insights.

Extended Detection Window

In Newburn, FL, the extended detection window of hair follicle tests makes them an invaluable tool for understanding long-term substance use patterns. With the ability to reveal drug use over a 90-day period, employers gain a detailed history of an applicant or employee's substance habits, aiding in informed decision-making processes and promoting a drug-free workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Newburn, FL, provides a robust barrier against sample tampering. By significantly reducing the risk of adulteration, these tests deliver unquestionable results. The safeguarding of the testing process ensures that outcomes are reliable, furnishing employers and professionals with data they can trust without the worry of compromised integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers the convenience of numerous testing centers across the nation, including local facilities in Newburn, FL. This extensive network ensures that accessing testing services is quick, easy, and hassle-free. Companies and individuals benefit from the reliability and efficiency of nationally available resources, facilitating straightforward drug testing processes.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering, conducting, and receiving hair follicle test results in Newburn, FL, is simple and confidential. Accredited Drug Testing ensures privacy at every stage, from initial contact to the final result. This user-friendly approach addresses concerns about confidentiality, making the entire experience secure and stress-free for all participants involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Newburn, FL, combines competitive pricing with quick turnaround times to deliver exceptional value. Our pricing structures are designed to accommodate companies of all sizes, ensuring that drug testing is a viable option without compromising on quality or speed, ultimately providing peace of mind through affordability and prompt service delivery.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Newburn, FL, hair follicle drug tests are synonymous with precision and expedience. Their unmatched accuracy elevates the detection of substance use, ensuring that results are both prompt and dependable. Employers and individuals benefit from knowing that these tests can swiftly and accurately ascertain drug use, providing clear outcomes that are essential for maintaining trust and safety in various contexts.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Emphasizing compliance with drug-free workplace policies, hair follicle testing in Newburn, FL, provides employers with a method to uphold safety and reduce legal risks. By integrating this rigorous testing process into workplace protocols, organizations ensure adherence to standards, fostering an environment of trust, accountability, and peace of mind among employees and management alike.

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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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