Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Whitsett, TX

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a historical record of substance use by capturing biological markers inside the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate three-month period for detecting alcohol and drug usage. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, roughly containing 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields about 100mg of hair, which is ideal for testing and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or screenings beyond 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. It's recommended to weigh the hair on a scale suited for jewelry. If scalp hair is not available, an identical amount of body hair is an alternative. When we talk about head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (such as facial or underarm hair).

Process Overview

The lab processes drug test results through four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial phase of incorporating a sample into a lab's system. This step includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and transferred, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entries not captured by an electronic tracking system.

Screening consists of a preliminary rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug use for most samples, any positive indication requires confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Samples showing presumed positives in Screening necessitate a follow-up validation.

When a sample tests as presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample to prepare for Extraction. Here, substances are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or saliva), which is why hair testing is a highly challenging method to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumed positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the certification for ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug analyses can register drug intake for roughly 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection time.
• Hard to manipulate: It is extremely challenging to alter a hair drug exam, ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers summary data: It can reveal a trend of drug consumption over time, not just recent occurrence.

Limitations:

• Not capable of capturing recent intake: Drugs require about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug evaluations typically cost more than other testing methodologies.
• Result discrepancies: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Commonly named "hair follicle tests", this assessment evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle underneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Our testing methods clearly show why hair follicle tests surpass urine tests in Whitsett, TX. Hair testing offers a superior range of detection and enhanced reliability compared to traditional urine testing, allowing for a more detailed understanding of substance usage.

Extended Detection Window

Whitsett, TX benefits from hair follicle drug testing as it provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This long-term view helps employers gain a thorough and accurate insight into an applicant's or employee's drug use history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Whitsett, TX offers a crucial advantage: significant resistance to tampering. The rigorous collection and analysis process minimizes the chances of adulteration, ensuring the credibility of results that are vital for decision-making.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our convenient testing locations, both nationwide and locally in Whitsett, TX, demonstrate our commitment to accessibility. This network ensures prompt, simple, and stress-free access to testing services whenever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Whitsett, TX is both straightforward and confidential. Clients can order, test, and obtain results with ease and privacy, addressing any concerns over the complexity and confidentiality of the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Whitsett, TX, we offer affordable pricing and speedy service for hair follicle testing. Our competitive pricing structures, coupled with swift turnaround times, provide excellent value to companies of every size, ensuring peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Located in Whitsett, TX, our hair follicle tests are known for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests use advanced techniques to precisely identify substance use, leaving no room for error, ensuring that you get the highest level of detection accuracy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Whitsett, TX can find comfort in using hair follicle testing to uphold drug-free policies. By ensuring compliance, companies reduce their legal risks and reinforce a safe, productive work environment.

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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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