Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Braxton, MS

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments are increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. The hair strands encapsulate substances within their fibers, offering an extended timeline of alcohol and drug usage when extracted near the scalp, revealing up to a three-month period for detection. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat tamper-resistant, and convenient for shipping.

Collecting a 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal amount for both initial assessment and verification. For EtG tests, additional requests, or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advised. Use a jeweler’s scale for measuring the sample weight. If scalp hair is missing, a similar quantity of body hair may be substituted. When referring to head hair, it means scalp hair exclusively, whereas body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug testing laboratory processing comprises four principal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the primary processing of a specimen into the laboratory system, ensuring the sample’s proper sealing and dispatch, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any missing data not obtained by an electronic chain of custody arrangement.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid examination for substance abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient for eliminating drug use in most cases, any positive findings require verification to be court-acceptable. Samples presumed positive in Screening necessitate another verification.

Presumably positive samples at the Screening phase are further extracted from the initial amount for the Extraction phase. This phase involves extracting substances from hair at considerably lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug evaluation one of the most complex methods to execute.

Verification of any positive findings is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples initially positive are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation via ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug use up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to manipulate: Manipulating a hair test is exceedingly tough, enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical insight: It provides a chronological pattern of drug usage instead of only recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent usage: Drugs require roughly 5-7 days to become apparent in hair.
• Expense: Hair tests typically incur higher costs than alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the concentration of drug residues in the hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the evaluation actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Prevails Over Urine Testing in Braxton, MS, is evident due to its superior detection accuracy. Hair follicle tests can screen for extended periods, unlike traditional methods such as urine tests, which are limited to short-term detection. This makes hair tests more reliable in evaluating an individual's long-term substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Braxton, MS, has an Extended Detection Window, capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior. This prolonged detection period offers a more thorough examination of an individual's drug history compared to urine tests, providing employers with a detailed substance use profile to assist in their hiring or assessment processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Employers in Braxton, MS, can trust in the Tamper-Resistant nature of hair follicle tests. Unlike traditional urine samples, hair samples are difficult to adulterate, resulting in credible and authentic results. This integrity ensures that employers receive unfaltering data when evaluating an employee or job candidate.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing facilities across the nation, including local options in Braxton, MS, Convenience of service access is assured. Individuals and businesses alike can benefit from quick, effortless access to testing services, eliminating any hindrance in obtaining necessary assessments.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Braxton, MS, the hair follicle testing process is Simple and Confidential. From ordering to receiving results, each step is designed to protect user privacy while ensuring ease of use. This approach addresses and alleviates any apprehensions potential test-takers might have regarding confidentiality and process complexity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing and rapid turnaround characterize our services in Braxton, MS. Businesses benefit from affordable testing without compromising on quality, paired with speedy results that minimize wait times, delivering exceptional value across all sectors.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The efficiency of hair follicle drug testing in Braxton, MS, is unmatched, offering rapid and precise results. Accuracy in detecting drug use is critical, and our method excels in delivering reliable outcomes swiftly. Substances are identified with a high degree of precision, ensuring only true positives are reported. This speed and reliability make it a preferred choice for critical testing needs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Choosing hair follicle testing in Braxton, MS, grants Compliance and Peace of Mind to employers. This method aligns with workplace drug-free policies, reducing legal risks and promoting a safer work environment. By employing hair testing, companies bolster their commitment to maintaining strict drug standards.

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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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