Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Benson, UT

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. It offers an extensive history of alcohol and drug intake by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair fibre as it grows. Hair near the scalp can provide roughly a three-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's girth) from the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-on tests, or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for precise weighing. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair. "Body hair" includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Summary

The key phases in processing a drug test in a lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the primary intake of a sample into the lab’s workflow. This step ensures the sample was secured and dispatched correctly, assigns a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) randomly, and completes any additional required data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary evaluation for substance abuse. Though a cost-efficient means to exclude drug use in most cases, any positive screening result must be confirmed to be valid for legal purposes. Samples flagged as presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample indicate a positive result during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample to undergo Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations than seen in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing a challenging procedure.

Confirmation of any positive result from screening is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptively positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as needed. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and in adherence to ISO/IEC 17025 criteria.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: It is challenging to alter a hair drug test, leading to more reliable outcomes.
• Chronological data: Offers insight into drug use over time, rather than immediate usage.

Drawbacks:

• Cannot identify recent intake: It takes roughly 5-7 days for substances to show up in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair pigmentation and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

About Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Benson, UT:
Hair follicle testing provides superior detection accuracy over traditional methods. Unlike urine tests, it captures a longer history of drug use, offering businesses in Benson, UT, a more reliable glimpse into the applicant's past. Robust Results: Hair methods make it challenging to falsify results, unlike urine tests where samples can be tampered with more easily.

Extended Detection Window

The Extended Detection Window in Benson, UT highlights hair follicle testing's ability to capture up to 90 days of substance history, allowing companies to gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual's habits.
This method is invaluable for employers in Benson, UT, to consider as it offers a broader perspective than short-term urine tests, thus providing a clearer view of potential hires.
Enhanced Screening: It helps in spotting repeated use patterns, unlike urine tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Benson, UT, hair follicle testing is known for its tamper-resistant qualities, significantly lowering the risk of adulterated samples.
The hair testing process strengthens reliability, assuring employers of authentic results and removing doubts about deceit.
Secure Measures: Our procedures ensure a sample's integrity, deterring manipulative attempts present in urine samples.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Benson, UT:
Our widespread centers ensure easy access to testing services, no matter where you are.

• Quick Access: Locations available nationwide, ensuring ease of scheduling.
• Local Facilities in Benson: Offering prompt service and convenience for all residents.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Benson, UT:
The steps for ordering, taking, and receiving results are designed to be straightforward, addressing concerns of privacy.
User Privacy: All interactions are confidential, ensuring peace of mind at every stage.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Benson, UT:
Our competitive pricing and swift result times provide excellent value for companies of all sizes, ensuring efficient service without excess cost.
Value-Driven: We focus on delivering quality while maintaining affordable rates, setting us apart as a reliable service provider in Benson, UT.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Benson, UT, hair follicle drug tests offer precision, speed, and high accuracy in pinpointing substance use.
Precision Testing: The hair sample method ensures exact results, minimizing false positives or negatives.
Speedy Results: Our facilities guarantee quick turnaround times, ensuring you receive results promptly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Benson, UT:
Hair follicle drug testing enhances compliance with workplace drug policies, cutting legal risks and boosting safety.
Employers in Benson, UT can rest assured knowing these tests help in maintaining a drug-free environment, crucial for workplace harmony and regulatory adherence.
Safety First: Aid in bolstering confidence among stakeholders through routine checks.

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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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