Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bradford, TN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing stands as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol use. It provides an extended overview by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When sampled close to the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Its collection is straightforward, challenges adulteration attempts, and is convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for assessment and validation. For EtG, additional uses, or tests over 10 panels, 150mg is advisable. We suggest weighing the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. References to head hair imply scalp hair exclusively, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the preliminary stage where a sample is integrated into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and manages any additional data entry not supported by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial assessment for drugs of concern. It's a cost-effective approach to exclude drug usage in most samples, but positive screens require confirmation to be court-admissible. Presumptive positive samples in Screening must undergo further confirmation.

If the Screening indicates a presumptive positive, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

Any positive screening results receive Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as required. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes scrutiny under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation alongside ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection timeframe.
• Resistant to manipulation: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, ensuring result accuracy.
• Tracks usage patterns: It offers a timeline of drug consumption, not simply recent activity.

Limitations:

• Unable to log recent use: Drugs are typically detectable in hair only after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are often pricier compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Even though commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Bradford, TN, hair follicle tests outshine traditional urine tests in several areas. With greater detection reliability and accuracy, they offer an unparalleled glimpse into drug use patterns, making them invaluable for stringent drug-free policies.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Bradford, TN take advantage of the extended detection window offered by hair follicle tests. With the ability to track drug use for up to 90 days, these tests provide a comprehensive analysis of an individual's substance history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Bradford, TN significantly limits the risk of sample tampering. By ensuring a tamper-resistant process, it provides trustworthy results that stakeholders can depend on for making informed decisions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our Bradford, TN testing centers, as part of a convenient nationwide network, guarantees easy access to our services. This network ensures that testing is conducted quickly and seamlessly, making it hassle-free for users.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Bradford, TN, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, the process ensures privacy and ease of use, addressing user concerns regarding confidentiality and simplicity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Bradford, TN benefits from our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in hair follicle testing. This offers excellent value for businesses of all sizes, ensuring cost-effective and quick testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Bradford, TN, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their accuracy and speed, providing reliable results efficiently. These tests can detect substance use with high precision, making them a favored choice for timely and trustworthy testing needs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Bradford, TN, hair follicle testing aligns with drug-free workplace policies, offering employers peace of mind. It helps in minimizing legal liabilities, safeguarding workplace safety, and maintaining compliance with drug use 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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