Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Rawls Springs, MS

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive history of substance use by trapping biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When samples are taken from near the scalp, they can indicate drug and alcohol use for up to three months. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample size of 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, equates to 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG tests, additional panels, and panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is recommended. It is advisable to weigh the hair sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair cannot be gathered, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in processing a laboratory drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning marks the first step in integrating a sample into the lab's system. This step ensures that the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a preliminary assessment to detect drugs of abuse. While cost-efficient for ruling out drug use in many samples, positive screening results require confirmation for court admissibility. Samples presumed positive during the Screening phase must undergo secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), indicating the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation where required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both 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 reveal drug use history for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection span.
• Tampering resistance: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical usage insight: Provides usage patterns over time rather than only recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Detectable drug presence in hair requires about 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally incurs higher costs than alternative methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and unique growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations.

Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests," these tests analyze the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Rawls Springs, MS, hair follicle testing stands out against traditional urine tests. Hair tests are known for their enhanced detection and reliability. Unlike urine testing, hair analysis offers a broader perspective on drug use history, making it a favored choice among employers and legal systems.

Extended Detection Window

Hair testing in Rawls Springs, MS, showcases an extended detection window, up to 90 days. This duration allows employers insight into an individual's long-term substance habits, providing a comprehensive evaluation that urine tests, which are limited to several days, cannot match.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Rawls Springs, MS, are renowned for their tamper-resistant nature. By minimizing the risk of sample adulteration, these tests produce results that are both reliable and indisputable, thus ensuring authenticity in the substance screening process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of having nationwide testing centers, including those in Rawls Springs, MS, simplifies the testing process. With numerous locations, individuals gain hassle-free and time-efficient access to the necessary testing services, streamlining the entire procedure.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Rawls Springs, MS, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. Ensuring privacy and ease, results can be ordered and received with minimal fuss, addressing confidentiality concerns while maintaining a user-friendly overall experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Rawls Springs, MS, boasts competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle testing. This affordability, paired with efficient processing, offers excellent value for organizations of all scales, ensuring peace of mind and effective budget management.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Rawls Springs, MS, hair follicle drug tests offer high precision, identified through their quick processing and remarkable accuracy in detecting substance use. With hair testing, results are reliable, providing insight without the wait that typically accompanies alternative methods.
Prompt and efficient, these tests ensure that substance screening is carried out with utmost exactness and reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Rawls Springs, MS, find peace in hair follicle testing because it aligns with drug-free workplace policies. The method reduces legal risks and boosts workplace safety by ensuring employees are compliant, preserving a secure and law-abiding environment.

Drug Testing Near Rawls Springs, MS

McCallum, MS

Seminary, MS

Moselle, MS

Sumrall, MS

Palmers Crossing, MS

Petal, MS

Sanford, MS

Bonhomie, MS

Hattiesburg, MS

Forest, MS

Glendale, MS

West Hattiesburg, MS

Arnold Line, MS

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews