Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Low, UT

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair stores long-term markers of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When samples are taken near the scalp, the hair can offer a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A strand segment of 1.5 inches of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly pencil-sized) nearest the scalp provides a 100mg hair sample, which is optimal for analysis and verification. For EtG, special tests, or panels over 10, a 150mg specimen is suggested. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing is recommended. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. The term head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (including facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four principal steps in the laboratory processing of drug test results: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary step of integrating a sample into a laboratory’s system. This process involves verifying the sample’s seal and shipping integrity, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry omitted by the electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a quick, initial test for drugs. Although Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug use suspicion for most samples, a positive outcome must be confirmed to be allowable in legal proceedings. Samples presumed positive in Screening need a subsequent confirmation step.

When a sample shows a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the specimen for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods like urine or saliva testing, which is why hair drug screening is among the most challenging methodologies to conduct.

Confirmation of any presumptive positive result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a presumptive positive result undergo washing before confirmation if required. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated according to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 compliance standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection period.
• Resistance to falsification: It is exceedingly difficult to alter hair drug test results, thereby enhancing accuracy.
• Historical usage pattern: Hair tests can reveal an ongoing pattern of drug usage over time rather than just highlighting recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: A window of approximately 5-7 days is required for drugs to become evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the amount of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the focus is on examining the hair strand itself, and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Low, UT, hair follicle testing emerges as superior to urine tests, owing to its enhanced detection accuracy. By examining hair samples, this method offers more reliable results, minimizing false negatives.

The hair test delivers robust detection capabilities, surpassing traditional urine tests, especially in revealing long-term substance use.

Extended Detection Window

With hair follicle testing in Low, UT, drug use can be identified over an extended period, up to 90 days. This provides employers with a thorough understanding of a potential or current employee's drug history.

This elongated detection window offers a comprehensive view, allowing for informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Low, UT significantly diminish the potential for sample tampering, providing results that are both dependable and uncontested.

By the nature of hair testing, adulteration attempts become exceedingly difficult, ensuring a trustworthy testing method.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Low, UT, our numerous testing centers nationwide offer convenience, enabling easy and efficient access to hair follicle testing services.

This wide network of locations ensures clients experience a seamless and hassle-free testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair testing procedure in Low, UT is straightforward and confidential, from ordering to receiving results, addressing privacy concerns effectively.

This simple approach ensures individuals undergo testing with assurance of confidentiality and ease.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing structures in Low, UT, we provide value through affordable hair follicle tests and swift result turnaround.

Our cost-effective services cater to companies of all sizes, delivering both peace of mind and economic advantage.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision of hair follicle drug tests in Low, UT is unmatched, offering fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. This testing method excels in identifying substance use, setting a high standard for dependability.

With hair testing, the detection process is swift and meticulous, ensuring a dependable evaluation of an individual’s drug use history.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair testing in Low, UT ensures compliance with workplace drug policies, mitigating legal concerns and promoting safer environments.

This method aligns with stringent drug-free workplace guidelines, enhancing peace of mind for employers.

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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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