Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Devils Slide, UT

What it is, How it works

The adoption of hair testing has proven to be an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reflect a detection period of up to roughly 90 days for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If head hair cannot be collected, an equivalent portion of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we're specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other kinds of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the primary integration of a sample into a laboratory's system. This process encompasses validating the sample's sealing and shipping correctness, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing additional data entry that an electronic chain of custody system might not provide.

Screening performs an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening serves as a cost-efficient approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, any positive findings necessitate confirmation to be considered court-admissible. Those samples that test presumptively positive in the Screening process require further confirmation.

If a sample shows as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for the Extraction phase. At this point, drugs are extracted from hair at considerably lower concentrations than other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo a washing step before confirmation as required. The overall laboratory process, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and follows ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to falsify: It is extremely challenging to deceive a hair drug test, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Offers historical patterns: It can reveal a timeline of drug use over a duration, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect immediate use: Drugs typically require 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis pertains to the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In the battle between hair follicle testing and urine screenings in Devils Slide, UT, hair tests often win due to superior detection time and reliability.
Compared to urine testing, which may miss recent drug use, hair tests provide a more comprehensive and detailed look at an individual's drug history, reducing the risk of undetected substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Devils Slide, UT offers an extended detection window, identifying drug use for up to 90 days. This capability provides employers with a broader insight into an individual's substance use history.
Such extended review periods help companies ensure they are making well-informed hiring or disciplinary decisions by observing long-term behavior patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Devils Slide, UT is known for its resistance to tampering, offering reliable results that can't be easily altered.
This testing method drastically reduces the chance of adulteration compared to urine tests and ensures that the samples reflect accurate historical substance use, maintaining the integrity of the entire testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Benefit from convenient testing locations in Devils Slide, UT and across the nation. Our extensive network of centers ensures easy access to reliable drug testing.
With testing facilities available nationwide, individuals and employers can enjoy fast, stress-free testing experiences without the need to travel far from their community or workplace.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Devils Slide, UT is straightforward and private, ensuring ease of use and confidentiality.
From booking a test to receiving results, the entire procedure is simple, addressing concerns regarding privacy and providing individuals and employers with a smooth and secure experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Fast turnaround times and competitive pricing make hair follicle testing in Devils Slide, UT a wise choice.
Our affordable rates combined with swift result generation provide excellent value for businesses, delivering both cost-effective solutions and peace of mind for companies of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle tests are fast and accurate, offering reliable results in Devils Slide, UT. The precision in detecting substance use is unmatched, making it a dependable method for identifying drug consumption.
Results from hair testing not only arrive swiftly but also demonstrate a high level of assurance regarding the true substance intake of individuals, ensuring accurate workplace or legal compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Devils Slide, UT gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies.
This testing method reduces legal liabilities while promoting a safe and compliant work environment, thereby enhancing overall organizational credibility and employee security.

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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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