Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ozone, TN

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record of drug and alcohol usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When samples are taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and other drug presence. Collecting hair is straightforward, it is somewhat resistant to tampering, and can be easily transported.

A 1.5-inch hair sample consisting of around 200 strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the ideal amount for screening and confirmation processes. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding ten, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. In cases where scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent amount of body hair may be collected. For head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing drug test results involves four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase of integrating a sample into the laboratory’s system. This includes verifying that the sample has been properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Though Screening is a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug use in most samples, any positive results require confirmation to be legally valid. Any samples testing presumptively positive in Screening need a second confirmation.

If a specimen tests presumptively positive at the Screening stage, more hair is taken from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other testing methods (such as urine or oral fluid), contributing to the complexity of hair drug testing.

Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Any presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection window.
• Challenging to falsify: It is exceedingly difficult to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Yields historical information: It provides a drug use pattern over time, not solely recent use.

Limitations:

• Incipient use undetectable: Detection in hair takes around 5-7 days post-ingestion.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur greater costs than alternative drug testing methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Individual factors, such as hair color and hair growth variations, can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While often called "hair follicle tests", these tests assess the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Ozone, TN, emerges as a superior alternative to urine tests. The accuracy in detection surpasses traditional methods, establishing itself as a more reliable option.

The benefits of hair tests are evident: they provide a more comprehensive overview of substance history compared to urine tests.

Due to its enhanced precision and reliability, hair testing is progressively favored over urine testing.

Extended Detection Window

Ozone, TN, sees the advantage of hair follicle testing with its extended detection window. It traces substance use for up to 90 days, offering a historical perspective unlike any other method.

The extended detection period enables employers to gain a thorough understanding of a potential hire's or employee's substance history.

This testing method provides comprehensive insights, helping employers make informed decisions about their workforce.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Ozone, TN, hair follicle tests stand out due to their tamper-resistant nature. This testing method vastly diminishes the risk of sample adulteration.

Hair testing offers reliable, unquestionable results thanks to its inherent resistance to tampering, which is a significant advantage.

The assurance of accurate results is critical, and hair follicle testing achieves this by ensuring samples are authentic and undisturbed.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Ozone, TN, boasts convenient nationwide testing centers, making access to services quick and hassle-free.

Our network of locations provides an easy route to obtaining needed test services without delay or inconvenience.

The convenience of multiple centers ensures that testing requirements are met efficiently, aiding individuals and organizations alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Ozone, TN, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease throughout.

The steps from ordering to receiving results are simple, addressing any privacy concerns effectively.

This streamlined approach guarantees that clients experience minimal hassle while maintaining confidentiality in testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Ozone, TN, offers hair follicle testing with competitive pricing and fast results, an excellent value for businesses of all sizes.

The economical pricing structure combined with quick turnaround times makes this testing option appealing to a wide range of companies.

Competitively priced, hair follicle testing ensures that organizations receive valuable, timely results without budget strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Ozone, TN, hair follicle drug tests offer swift, accurate, and dependable results. They are designed for precision in detecting substance use, ensuring high reliability.

The meticulous nature of hair testing facilitates quick results processing, and the elevated accuracy makes it a superior choice for employers and authorities.

Efficiency in hair follicle testing is unmatched, combining rapid results with unparalleled accuracy in identifying substance use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Ozone, TN, benefit significantly from hair follicle testing in maintaining compliance and securing a drug-free workplace environment.

This testing approach reduces legal risks and promotes workplace safety, providing peace of mind for employers.

Hair tests align with strict company policies, ensuring a safer, more compliant working environment that adheres to drug-free mandates.

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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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