Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Savage, MS

What it is, How it works

Hair examinations have emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of substances by capturing biomarkers within its growing fibers. Collected near the scalp, hair can reveal drug or alcohol use over a roughly 3-month period. The collection process for hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg, an optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for specimen measurement. If scalp hair is unavailable, equivalent body hair can be collected. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning includes the sample's initial integration into a lab’s system. This process ensures the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes remaining data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary quick evaluation for substance abuse. While it’s a cost-effective technique to exclude drug use for most samples, a confirmed positive screen is needed for legal proceedings. Any samples appearing positive in Screening require secondary confirmation.

If Screening suggests a positive result, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen and readied for Extraction. During this phase, substances are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which highlights the complexity of hair drug analysis.

Positive Screening results are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under CAP’s (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 guidelines.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug assessments can track drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Altering a hair drug test outcome is notably difficult, ensuring result accuracy.
• Tracks historical usage: It illustrates a pattern of drug intake over time, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Detection in hair requires approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is generally pricier than other methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Known as "hair follicle tests," these actually assess the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Savage, MS lies in its superior detection capabilities. Unlike urine tests, hair follicle analysis provides more accurate and reliable results. This method not only catches substance use over a longer timeframe but also reduces the possibility of test manipulation.

Employers valuing a drug-free workplace will find hair testing particularly advantageous due to its comprehensive nature and longer detection window.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Savage, MS allows employers access to detailed substance use history. Hair tests can detect drug use over a period reaching up to 90 days, providing a broad insight into an individual’s habits, which is crucial for making informed employment decisions.

This extended timeframe ensures companies have a reliable analysis of any potential employee's or current staff member's substance history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Savage, MS provides assurance of reliability. Hair follicle tests minimize tampering risks, leading to unquestioned results. This robust method is less likely to be contaminated or altered, unlike some traditional testing approaches.

By employing this testing practice, companies can be confident in the authenticity and integrity of the test results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Savage, MS simplify the testing process. With centers spread across the nation, accessing services remains quick and hassle-free, accommodating both individual and corporate needs.

Local availability ensures minimal disruption to schedules, offering ease and efficiency in obtaining necessary test results.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Savage, MS makes hair follicle testing straightforward. From booking to results receipt, the process is designed with privacy in mind, ensuring all participants' information remains protected and confidential.

This user-friendly procedure addresses concerns of privacy, encouraging a seamless and secure experience for all users.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Savage, MS highlight excellent value offerings. Our competitive pricing structures ensure businesses of all sizes can benefit from our quick, reliable services without compromising quality.

Fast result turnaround times enhance efficiency, providing peace of mind through timely and accurate substance use assessments.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Savage, MS offer unmatched dependability. Hair follicle testing ensures precise substance detection, surpassing other methods in speed and accuracy. Employers and individuals benefit from the comprehensive analysis available through these tests.

The speed at which results are delivered ensures that any concerns regarding substance use are addressed swiftly, promoting confidence in testing outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Savage, MS stems from using robust hair follicle testing. It ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies, mitigates legal issues, and fosters a safer work environment.

Employers can trust this method to thoroughly support their compliance needs, providing reliable data for critical employment-related decisions.

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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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