Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Theta, TN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective instrument for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a long-term history of substance use. When collected near the scalp, hair can indicate alcohol or drug use over a period of up to three months. Hair is easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (approximately matching the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg, the optimal sample for both initial and detailed analysis. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. We advise the sample be weighed on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses remaining hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in laboratory processing of drug test outcomes are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the sample's initial processing within a lab's system, ensuring proper sealing and shipment of the sample, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary evaluation for signs of drug use. Though cost-efficient for negating drug usage in most samples, a positive screen demands confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptive positives from Screening necessitate secondary verification.

In cases of presumptive positivity at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. This step involves extracting drugs at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), marking hair drug screening as a notably challenging method to execute.

Any positive results during Screening undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive specimens are cleaned as required. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, complies with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug assessments can disclose drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a reduced detection frame.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test is particularly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals trends in drug use over time, not just recent incidents.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments typically incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Variables like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests," this test evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Theta, TN, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine testing thanks to its enhanced detection accuracy and reliability.
Unlike urine tests, hair testing provides longer detection periods and is less susceptible to evasion tactics. Employers gain confidence knowing that the hair test results are reflective of an individual's long-term substance history.
The enhanced accuracy of hair testing makes it a superior choice for situations requiring stringent drug-free policy adherence.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Theta, TN offers a window into substance use that extends up to 90 days. This extended detection period provides employers with a comprehensive overview of an individual’s drug use history.
Compared to urine tests, which have a shorter detection time, hair testing allows for a more thorough understanding of an applicant or employee’s patterns.
This makes it an invaluable tool for making informed decisions on hiring and maintaining workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Theta, TN, hair follicle tests are preferred for their tamper-resistant nature, ensuring reliable results.
Unlike urine tests, which can be adulterated or substituted, hair tests are significantly harder to tamper with. This provides a higher level of confidence in the integrity of the testing process.
Employers and users rely on hair testing to secure unquestionable, high-fidelity results that maintain the standards of their zero-tolerance programs.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing solutions nationwide, including in Theta, TN, ensuring easy access to services.
Our widespread network of locations ensures that individuals and businesses can promptly access testing when needed, without hassles.
This extensive reach allows for streamlined testing processes, meeting the quick, efficient needs of clients while maintaining high standards of service.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Theta, TN, hair follicle testing is straightforward, confidential, and easy to navigate.
The process of ordering, taking, and receiving results is designed to be user-friendly, addressing privacy and ease-of-use concerns.
Our approach ensures that clients can manage their testing needs with discretion, knowing that their privacy is respected throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround, hair follicle testing in Theta, TN serves as an exceptional value for companies of all sizes.
Our pricing structures are designed to be accessible without compromising on quality, ensuring affordability alongside efficient service delivery.
With quick results and cost-effective solutions, businesses can benefit from high-quality testing without strain on resources.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Theta, TN stand out for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision in detecting substance use ensures a high level of trust for businesses and individuals alike.
The combination of speed and accuracy makes hair testing an ideal choice for timely and dependable drug screening, meeting the needs of employers and others who prioritize accurate assessments without delays.
With Accredited Drug Testing, the process is not only swift but consistently precise, ensuring peace of mind through trustworthy evaluations.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Theta, TN find peace of mind in hair follicle testing for its role in promoting compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
By reducing legal risks through consistent and accurate testing, businesses can enhance workplace safety and stability.
The reliability of hair testing results assists in maintaining a compliant environment, offering both employers and employees a secure and reassuring work setting.

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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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