Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Rush Valley, UT

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term indicator of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can reflect up to a roughly 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for screening and verification. For EtG, extras, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to measure the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair refers to all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary step of entering a sample into a lab's system. This step includes ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing necessary data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial examination for drug abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly method to eliminate drug use for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that show presumptive positives during Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Upon getting presumptive positives in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging procedure.

Positive screening outcomes undergo Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as needed. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to fake: Manipulating a hair drug test is exceptionally difficult, resulting in more accurate outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, beyond just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Doesn't detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are usually costlier compared to other drug test types.
• Result disparities: Variables such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing with traditional urine tests in Rush Valley, UT, hair testing's superior detection abilities come to light. Its accuracy and reliability make it a preferable option for long-term substance detection.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Rush Valley, UT, gain assurance through hair follicle testing's extended detection window, up to 90 days. This method grants a thorough overview of an individual’s substance history, aiding in informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Rush Valley, UT, offer a tamper-resistant approach, significantly lowering adulteration risks. Reliability and credibility of the results are assured, enhancing trust in the process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Rush Valley, UT residents enjoy the convenience of nationwide and local testing locations, ensuring easy access to our services, making drug testing quick and hassle-free for everyone involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

With a simple and private process, hair follicle testing in Rush Valley, UT, offers a seamless and confidential way to order, complete, and receive results, catering to all privacy and ease-of-use concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Rush Valley, UT businesses recognize the competitive pricing of hair follicle testing, coupled with fast turnaround times. These affordable services provide exceptional value and reassurance to companies of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Rush Valley, UT, the precision of hair follicle drug testing stands unmatched. Quick and meticulous, these tests deliver reliable results, offering a fine balance of speed and accuracy. Hair testing is a top choice for detecting substance use effectively.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Rush Valley, UT, benefit profoundly from hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This strategy helps reduce legal complications and promotes a safer 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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