Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Birdseye, UT

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The growth of hair strands entraps biomarkers, thereby offering a lengthy timeline of substance use. When hair is harvested close to the scalp, it can reveal substance use history stretching back up to about three months. Collecting hair samples is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and uncomplicated to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches of nearly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for evaluation and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or screenings exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's suggested to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of hair from the body may be gathered. References to head hair pertain exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties of hair (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The sequence of steps in processing a drug test result in a lab includes Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial setup of a sample within a laboratory's system. This step verifies the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data input not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid check for drug substances. Despite being an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be considered valid in legal contexts. Any samples that exhibit preliminary positive results in Screening demand a subsequent confirmation step.

Should a sample exhibit presumptive positivity during the Screening stage, further hair is retrieved from the original specimen for preparation for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentration levels than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), marking hair drug screening as the most complex procedure to execute.

Positive screening results undergo validation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation if required. The whole laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use up to 90 days prior, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, ensuring greater accuracy of results.
• Presents historical patterns: It offers insights into drug usage trends over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect immediate usage: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally entail higher costs compared to other methods of drug testing.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and personal hair growth variations can impact the levels of drug metabolites present in the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the procedure analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers critical advantages over urine testing, especially in Birdseye, UT. Hair tests demonstrate superior detection accuracy by analyzing a longer period for drug usage.

• Longer detection window up to 90 days
• Nearly impossible to tamper with

Extended Detection Window

Employers gain a broader insight into drug use history with hair testing in Birdseye, UT.

• Up to 90 days of detection, significantly more than other methods

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Birdseye, UT, is a secure alternative, drastically minimizing tampering risks. Due to its nature, this method is highly resistant to sample adulteration, ensuring authentic results each time.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With nationwide testing centers, including one in Birdseye, UT, obtaining a hair follicle test is seamless and convenient. Accessibility and efficiency are guaranteed, making the process hassle-free for our clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of obtaining hair follicle drug test results in Birdseye, UT is simple and discreet. From the initial order to receiving your results, every step is designed with privacy and ease in mind, addressing any confidentiality concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Birdseye, UT offers affordable and swift hair follicle testing options. Competitive pricing combined with fast processing times ensures excellent value, catered to suit businesses of any size with economic efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Birdseye, UT, the efficiency and reliability of hair follicle drug testing are unsurpassed. These tests are known for their high precision, capturing substance use with remarkable accuracy.
Speed is another critical factor, providing reliable results faster than many traditional methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Birdseye, UT benefit significantly from hair follicle testing. This method supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal liabilities and enhancing overall safety in the 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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