Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mason, TN

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly perceived as an effective method for uncovering the consumption of substances like drugs and alcohol. Hair encases biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand, offering a historical substance usage timeline. When taken near the scalp, it grants a detection reach of up to 90 days for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, tough to alter, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches containing roughly 200 hair strands, about a #2 pencil's thickness, from adjacent to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplemental tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg specimen is advisable. We suggest weighing the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable volume of body hair can be utilized. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails the preliminary integration of a sample into a lab's system. It involves ensuring the sample's seal and shipment were correct, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any further data input not offered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial rapid examination for drugs of abuse. Although Screening economically excludes drug usage across most samples, any screen yielding positive results necessitates confirmation to be legally acceptable. Samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

Should a specimen exhibit presumptive positivity during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a concentration considerably lower than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), emphasizing the complexity of hair drug screening.

The Confirmation process for positive screening results uses GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positivity are cleansed before confirmation, as required. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can uncover drug use over a 90-day span, unlike urine tests, which have a lesser detection timeframe.
• Challenging to deceive: Tampering with a hair drug test is exceptionally difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Supplies historical insights: It provides a record of drug use habits over a duration, not merely recent indulgence.

Limitations:

• Undetectable for recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically incurs higher costs compared to other techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual growth variability can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: It's commonly called a "hair follicle test", but it evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When considering drug testing methods in Mason, TN, hair follicle testing stands out against traditional urine tests. Unlike urine tests, hair tests have a superior rate of detection accuracy, identifying patterns of substance abuse over an extended time.

Hair tests virtually eliminate the possibility of tampering and provide a reliable picture of an individual's drug history, making them a preferred choice for organizations aiming for thoroughness in drug detection.

Extended Detection Window

The extended window of detection up to 90 days is what sets hair follicle testing apart in Mason, TN. This long detection period offers comprehensive insight into an individual’s drug habits over the past three months.

This aspect is crucial for employers who want a detailed look at an applicant’s or employee’s drug history, allowing them to make informed employment decisions with confidence.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests are designed to resist tampering, a key advantage in Mason, TN. Unlike other methods, altering a hair sample is extremely difficult, providing an additional layer of security and integrity to the testing process.

With hair testing, the risk of adulteration is minimized, ensuring the results are a true reflection of the individual’s drug use. This reliability is crucial for entities that need unquestionable evidence in substance abuse cases.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Testing is accessible and convenient throughout Mason, TN, with numerous nationwide centers. This network ensures quick and hassle-free testing experiences, delivering results efficiently.

Local testing sites provide easy access for residents and businesses alike, eliminating the difficulties often associated with finding reliable drug testing services without delay.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Mason, TN, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. From ordering to sample collection and results delivery, every step is designed to protect privacy and ensure ease of use.

Clients can rest assured that their information is secure, making it a hassle-free option for those needing discreet and straightforward testing solutions.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Mason, TN, hair follicle testing serves as a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes.

The competitive pricing structures make these services accessible, ensuring that all entities, regardless of size, benefit from the excellent value this testing method provides, coupled with swift results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Mason, TN, hair follicle drug tests are known for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results. Precision in detecting even minimal traces of substances is a key feature, making it a preferred choice for employers and institutions that require certainty in substance testing.

With this method, the detection of substance use is much more accurate compared to other tests. The high sensitivity ensures that users get quick answers, often within days, maintaining their reputation as a leader in drug testing technology.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Mason, TN, using hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, significantly enhancing workplace safety and peace of mind for employers.

This testing method helps reduce legal risks and fosters a safer environment by deterring drug use. Employers can confidently enforce their policies, knowing they have a reliable testing process in place.

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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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