Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Huntsville, UT

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It captures a lasting record of substances by embedding biomarkers into the hair fibers as they grow. When sampled near the scalp, hair can reveal substance use for up to three months. Hair is uncomplicated to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands, equivalent to the diameter of a #2 pencil, close to the scalp will yield 100mg, the preferred quantity for testing. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding ten, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other varieties (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The drug testing laboratory workflow comprises four stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary integration of a sample into the lab's system. This procedure includes confirming that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling out any missing information not captured by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary test for common drugs. Though this step is cost-efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive result must be validated to be accepted in legal proceedings. For samples with a potential positive outcome in Screening, further confirmation is required.

Should a sample test positive in the Screening phase, extra hair is taken from the sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from the hair at a significantly reduced concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which makes hair testing the most challenging method to execute.

Any positive screening result is confirmed using techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples preliminarily deemed positive undergo a wash before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests reveal drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which capture only recent drug activity.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair test is notably challenging, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Tracks historical usage: It indicates drug usage patterns over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect new use: Detection of drugs in hair takes roughly 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair tests tend to be pricier than alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result variation: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand itself, rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Huntsville, UT, the advantages of hair follicle testing over urine testing are evident. Hair testing outperforms traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests can detect recent usage, hair tests provide a comprehensive substance use history. This method's credibility reassures employers and ensures a thorough evaluation of individuals' drug use patterns.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Huntsville, UT, excels with its extended detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This long-term overview allows employers to assess an applicant's or employee's detailed substance history. By offering such a comprehensive view, hair tests provide a more complete picture of one's commitment to a drug-free lifestyle, invaluable for making informed hiring or retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Huntsville, UT, hair follicle tests stand out for their tamper-resistant nature, significantly reducing the risk of sample adulteration. This method ensures the results are credible and unquestionable, providing peace of mind to employers and individuals alike. The secure testing process guarantees that samples remain intact and unaltered, maintaining the integrity of the test outcome.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing makes hair follicle testing convenient with nationwide and local locations, including Huntsville, UT. Our extensive network ensures quick and hassle-free access to testing services, reducing wait times and facilitating easy scheduling. With testing centers accessible across various cities, individuals can easily undergo testing close to home or work.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Huntsville, UT, the process of hair follicle testing is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering the test to collecting samples and receiving results, every step prioritizes privacy and user-friendliness. This straightforward approach addresses any potential concerns regarding the security of personal information and the ease of the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Huntsville, UT, our competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times for hair follicle tests provide excellent value for businesses of any size. Our affordable offerings ensure that companies receive timely results without breaking the budget. This cost-effectiveness paired with efficiency allows employers to make informed decisions swiftly, bolstering organizational effectiveness.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Huntsville, UT, hair follicle drug tests offer fast and precise results in identifying substance use. They stand out due to their heightened accuracy, ensuring reliable detection of drug usage. The testing process is not only swift but also highly efficient, providing results that employers and individuals can trust. The advanced methods ensure that every test captures an accurate account of one's substance use history.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Huntsville, UT, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies. By employing this method, organizations minimize legal risks and enhance workplace safety. This reliable testing strategy supports a drug-free environment, promoting peace of mind for employers and reinforcing the importance of maintaining a safe and productive workplace.

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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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