Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kittrell, TN

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair for testing is now regarded as an effective method for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Within the fibers of the growing hair shaft, hair captures biomarkers, offering an extensive history of alcohol and other drugs. When cut near to the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of approximately three months for both alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat tough to alter, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in thickness) adjacent to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, considered the optimal sample for both testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or examinations that exceed 10 panels, it is advisable to obtain 150mg of the sample. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair may be acquired. When we mention head hair, it exclusively refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

In the lab, four principal steps are pivotal in processing a drug test outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first step in incorporating a sample into the lab’s system. It entails checking that the sample was properly sealed and sent, generating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any extra data input not offered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening entails an initial brisk examination for illicit substance consumption. Though Screening provides an economical method to dismiss drug intake in most specimens, any positive findings require confirmation to be legally acceptable. Samples that show presumptive positive results in Screening indeed require subsequent validation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, substances are retrieved from hair at a substantially lesser concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug analysis one of the most challenging processes to execute.

Positive results from Screening are validated using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples showing presumptive positive outcomes are cleansed before Confirmation, as needed. The entire laboratory workflow, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug evaluations are capable of revealing drug consumption over a 90-day period, unlike urine tests, which are limited to a shorter detection timeline.
• Challenging to manipulate: Hair drug tests are notably challenging to falsify, contributing to the reliability of the results.
• Records historical usage: It uncovers a timeline of drug intake over a span of time, rather than merely identifying recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent intake: Drugs require approximately 5-7 days to become perceptible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug evaluations are generally pricier compared to other testing techniques.
• Result variances: Elements including hair color and personal discrepancies in hair development can influence the drug metabolites' concentration in the hair.

Note: While customarily renamed as "hair follicle tests," the examination focuses on the hair shaft and not the hair follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing excels over urine testing in many aspects in Kittrell, TN. Employers and legal systems prefer hair tests due to their superior detection period and effectiveness.

Compared to traditional urine tests, hair testing stands out for its enhanced reliability and accuracy, offering a robust solution for detecting long-term drug use that urine tests may miss.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Kittrell, TN benefit from the extended detection window provided by hair follicle tests. Capturing drug use up to 90 days, these tests offer a thorough view of an individual's substance use history.

The ability of hair follicle testing to cover a longer detection period allows employers to make more informed decisions regarding their workforce, ensuring safety and compliance.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Kittrell, TN are known for being tamper-resistant. This feature significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration, offering trustworthy and consistent results.

The rigorous method employed in hair tests offers a level of security that limits the possibility of manipulation, ensuring results are both reliable and accurate.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Nationwide testing centers, including in Kittrell, TN, ensure that accessing hair follicle testing services is convenient. This network of centers means quick and hassle-free service for all.

Local locations throughout the country provide easy access to testing services, ensuring that both employers and individuals can meet regulations without unnecessary delays.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our simple, confidential process in Kittrell, TN, ensures ease of ordering, taking, and receiving results for hair tests, addressing privacy and usability concerns.

The streamlined procedure for hair follicle testing supports privacy and efficiency, making the process straightforward for users while protecting sensitive information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Kittrell, TN, our pricing structures are designed to be affordable, with fast turnaround on hair follicle test results. This ensures cost-effectiveness and quick access to critical information.

Competitive prices, paired with rapid result delivery, provide great value for companies of all sizes, ensuring they remain informed without overspending.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Kittrell, TN, hair follicle tests provide fast, accurate results. The precision of these tests ensures high accuracy in substance detection, important for maintaining safety and compliance.

Accuracy and speed are key when it comes to hair follicle tests. These tests offer a reliable method for confirming substance use, cutting down the waiting time associated with other testing methods, and providing results that professionals trust.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Kittrell, TN, hair follicle testing offers compliance and peace of mind. By aligning with workplace policies, this method reduces legal risks and enhances safety.

Using hair testing helps maintain a drug-free work environment, ensuring businesses remain compliant with regulations and can confidently safeguard their workplace.

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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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