Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hopewell, TN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing markers in the fibers of the growing hair, hair reveals a long-term record of alcohol and drug use. Collected near the scalp, hair can show a drug and alcohol detection window of around three months. The collection process is straightforward, hard to adulterate, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch hair sample (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) containing approximately 200 strands closest to the scalp yields 100mg, an optimal amount for screening and confirmation processes. For EtG, additional analyses, or tests exceeding ten panels, 150mg is advised. It’s best to measure the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a similar quantity of body hair is acceptable. “Head hair” indicates scalp hair only, whereas “body hair” encompasses other types like facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The lab process for drug tests includes these primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial sample processing in a lab's system. This phase ensures the sample is correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary step to detect drugs of abuse. While it provides an economical method to exclude drug use in most specimens, any positive result here must be confirmed to be court-admissible. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening must be further confirmed through additional testing.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, more hair from the original specimen is used for Extraction. Drugs in this phase are extracted at significantly lower concentrations than in methods like urine or oral fluid tests, making hair drug screening the most challenging method.

For Confirmation, positive screening outcomes are validated using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Every presumptively positive sample is subjected to washing before confirmation, if necessary. The overall laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed accrediting both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, a longer duration than urine tests.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing accuracy.
• Historical insights: Offers a usage pattern over time rather than merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot discern recent usage: Drugs require around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more than alternative methods.
• Variable results: Drug metabolite concentration in hair can be influenced by factors like hair color and personal hair growth rates.

Note: Commonly mentioned as "hair follicle tests," these tests actually examine the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When considering drug test methods in Hopewell, TN, hair follicle testing often outperforms urine testing.
Its superior detection time frame and accuracy mean that users cannot easily bypass the process like with urine tests, thereby offering employers increased confidence in the results provided.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection period offered by hair follicle tests in Hopewell, TN, is unmatched. They can trace drug use for up to 90 days, which is far longer than traditional testing methods.
For employers, this means a clearer understanding of an individual's substance history over an extended timeline.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Hopewell, TN, the resilience of hair follicle tests against tampering makes them preferable. This testing method nearly eliminates the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring that the results are as accurate as possible.
Ensuring tamper-proof results grants confidence to both employers and individuals.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Hopewell, TN residents have the advantage of conveniently located hair testing centers nationwide.

• No matter where you are, testing facilities ensure stress-free access to services, promoting easy and quick drug testing experiences for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

The straightforward nature of the hair testing process in Hopewell, TN ensures privacy and ease. From ordering the test to receiving results, each step is designed for user confidentiality and simplicity, thereby alleviating any privacy concerns for individuals.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and rapid turnaround are significant benefits in Hopewell, TN's hair testing services.
For companies, this means they can maintain drug-free environments without incurring substantial costs, enhancing their overall value through competitive pricing structures.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Hopewell, TN, the precision and quickness of hair follicle drug tests stand out. These tests deliver exceptionally accurate readings, making them a top choice for detecting drug use.
Employers and professionals seeking reliable results now turn to hair tests for their unmatched ability to pinpoint substance exposure.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Hopewell, TN benefit significantly from using hair follicle tests to uphold drug-free policies.
They offer peace of mind through compliance assurance and enhance workplace safety by reducing the risks associated with drug use, thereby guarding against potential legal issues.

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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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