Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Purves, TX

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term history of substance use due to biomarkers being embedded within the hair shaft. When hair is collected near the scalp, it provides a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair sampling is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample of approximately 200 hair strands, comparable in size to a #2 pencil, is sufficient for the ideal 100mg sample needed for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to measure the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair can be used instead. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types (such as facial or underarm hair).

Process Overview

The drug testing laboratory process comprises four pivotal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is introduced into the lab's system. This phase involves checking that the sample was securely sealed and properly sent, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and entering any other necessary data absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary evaluation for the presence of substances. Though cost-effective, a positive result from Screening must be confirmed to be valid in legal settings. Hence, any sample indicating a potential positive must undergo further Confirmation.

If the Screening phase suggests a positive result, more hair is extracted from the original batch for the Extraction stage. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at a much lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), explaining why hair drug screening is the hardest to perform.

Any positively screened samples undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. If needed, samples are washed before confirmation as well. The lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Difficulty to cheat: Tampering with hair tests is highly challenging, increasing the reliability of results.
• Provides historical data: It offers insights into patterns of substance use over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair samples.
• Cost: Hair drug testing generally incurs higher expenses compared to other testing methods.
• Variations in results: Factors like hair color and individual growth differences can affect drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair shaft rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Purves, TX, hair follicle testing is preferred to urine tests due to its superior detection capabilities and accuracy. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing provides a more comprehensive analysis, ensuring reliability in identifying substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Located in Purves, TX, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, up to 90 days, unlike other testing methods. This extensive period allows employers to gain a clear and thorough understanding of a candidate or employee's drug use history, supporting informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Purves, TX offers a tamper-resistant solution, significantly lowering the possibility of sample manipulation. With a secure process in place, clients can trust the results are both authentic and straightforward, ensuring integrity in every test conducted.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing facilities available nationwide and locally in Purves, TX, Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient access for anyone needing services. This network ensures a streamlined experience, with quick and hassle-free testing processes for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing process in Purves, TX is straightforward and private. From ordering to results, confidentiality is upheld, meeting the highest standards of privacy and ease. Clients can rest assured in knowing their information is secure and their needs addressed seamlessly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Purves, TX, Accredited Drug Testing offers economical pricing paired with swift result delivery. Our competitive structure provides great value for businesses across sizes, ensuring they achieve peace of mind without stretching resources.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Purves, TX is renowned for its speed and accuracy. The rapid processing ensures prompt results, helping individuals and companies to make informed decisions quickly. This testing method is highly esteemed for accurately identifying substances, making it an essential tool for varied needs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Purves, TX, hair follicle testing guarantees compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By minimizing legal exposures and enhancing safety, businesses can foster a more secure and responsible work environment, prioritizing both health and lawfulness.

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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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