Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bridgeland, UT

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments have become recognized as an effective mechanism for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a historical record of alcohol and substances by enfolding biomarkers within its growing fibers. When collected near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for alcohol and substances. The collection process for hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising around 200 hair strands (equivalent to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation processes. For EtG enhancements and/or tests beyond 10 panels, it is advisable to collect 150mg of the sample. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is recommended. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent volume of body hair can be obtained. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Other hair types (such as facial or axillary) are classified as body hair.

Process Overview

There are four principal phases in the laboratory assessment of a drug test output: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary integration of a sample within a lab’s system. This step includes ensuring the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for substance misuse. Although this stage is an economical means to rule out substance use in most cases, a positive screening must be authenticated to be valid in legal settings. Samples that yield a presumptive positive during Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive in the Screening phase, an additional portion is taken from the initial hair sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in alternatives like urine or oral fluid, rendering hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening is accomplished through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples showing presumptive positivity undergo a necessary washing before confirmation. The entire lab workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Hair framework and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation guidelines.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection span: Hair drug evaluations can identify substance use for up to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests that offer a shorter detection span.
• Tamper-resistant: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a usage pattern over time, rather than solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• No detection of immediate use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Cost factor: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though colloquially called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself and not the scalp follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

For individuals and organizations in Bridgeland, UT, hair follicle testing is often superior to traditional urine tests. Hair tests boast greater detection accuracy, covering a longer timeline, thus offering better insights into an individual's substance history.
Compared to urine tests, hair testing provides a broader view of past drug use, ensuring employers make informed decisions.

Extended Detection Window

In Bridgeland, UT, hair follicle testing proves its worth by detecting drug use up to 90 days earlier. This extended window gives employers a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance history, significantly aiding in assessing long-term patterns of drug use.
Employers benefit from this expansive detection period, ensuring a thorough evaluation of drug use history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Bridgeland, UT are a tamper-resistant method of drug testing. These tests reduce the likelihood of sample adulteration, providing results that are hard to dispute.
Through stringent collection procedures and analysis techniques, hair tests offer reliable evidence of drug use, curbing potential attempts to tamper with or cheat the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient nationwide testing centers, including in Bridgeland, UT. This accessibility streamlines the entire process, making testing quick and hassle-free.
Whether you are local to Bridgeland or require testing on a broader scale, our extensive network of centers ensures efficient service wherever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Bridgeland, UT, ordering and completing a hair follicle drug test is straightforward and confidential. We focus on ensuring that the entire process protects your privacy while being easy to use.
The discreet nature of testing, from order to result, ensures participants have peace of mind, knowing their information remains secure and their privacy respected.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our services in Bridgeland, UT offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, highlighting our dedication to value and efficiency. Businesses large or small can rely on our competitive pricing structures.
By minimizing wait times and costs, we provide satisfactory solutions that do not compromise on quality or reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Bridgeland, UT, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. This testing method excels due to its precision in pinpointing substance use. As the need for accuracy in drug detection intensifies, hair follicle tests stand out.
By leveraging advanced techniques, these tests detect traces of drug usage with high accuracy, making them an invaluable tool for employers and individuals alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Bridgeland, UT ensures compliance with workplace drug policies and supports workplace safety. By choosing this method, employers can mitigate legal risks associated with drug use in the workplace.
This approach guarantees adherence to zero-tolerance policies, enhancing the peace of mind for businesses aiming to maintain drug-free environments.

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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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