Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Diamondville, WY

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has emerged as a formidable means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When sampled near the scalp, hair can provide an approximate detection range of up to 3 months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It is recommended to weigh the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be obtained. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory’s system. This step includes verifying that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective approach to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be accepted in court. Any samples showing a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation.

If a presumptive positive is found during the Screening stage, more hair is taken from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at concentrations much lower than with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology to execute.

Any positive screening result is confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are presumptive positives undergo a wash before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair categorization and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can uncover drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection scope.
• Difficulty to deceive: It is extremely challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: Provides a trend of drug use over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Approximately 5-7 days are required before drugs become apparent in hair.
• Price: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the examination actually evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing drug testing methods, hair follicle tests hold clear advantages over urine tests in Diamondville, WY. Hair testing not only provides a comprehensive detection period but offers unbeatable accuracy.
Unlike urine tests that detect recent use, hair tests identify long-term substance abuse, ensuring a thorough substance history review for employers and legal bodies.

Extended Detection Window

In Diamondville, WY, the strength of hair follicle testing lies in its extended detection window, capturing drug use over a span of up to 90 days.
This testing method offers employers a broader and more comprehensive view of an applicant or employee's drug history, enabling informed hiring and retention decisions. Hair tests visibly provide an accurate history of substance use over time.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Diamondville, WY, hair follicle tests significantly limit the potential for specimen tampering, delivering consistent and unquestionable results.
Unlike urine tests, hair tests are virtually immune to tampering as they utilize a non-intrusive but secure collection process. This method affords employers confidence in the reliability of test outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing in Diamondville, WY boasts convenient testing locations both nationwide and locally. Our expansive network ensures that access to a testing center is always quick and hassle-free.
Whether in town or across the country, users can enjoy the ease of our wide-reaching testing services, minimizing the challenges of undergoing drug testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our testing process in Diamondville, WY is simple, discreet, and user-friendly. Clients can effortlessly order tests, provide samples, and receive results—all while maintaining confidentiality.
Understanding privacy concerns, Accredited Drug Testing ensures that every step of the process respects personal privacy and upholds ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and expeditious turnaround times, our Diamondville, WY services provide excellent value to companies of all sizes.
Accredited Drug Testing balances quality and cost-efficiency, ensuring that comprehensive and reliable drug testing remains an accessible service for all businesses. Fast results complement our affordable price point.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled in Diamondville, WY. These tests stand out with their exceptional accuracy in detecting substance usage, transforming drug testing through an advanced methodology.
Hair tests work effectively by absorbing drug markers into the hair shaft, detecting usage long after consumption. This process ensures fast, accurate, and reliable findings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Diamondville, WY, benefit from hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free work policies and enhancing workplace safety. This testing method not only mitigates legal risks but fortifies company standards.
This comprehensive testing solution fosters a secure and compliant environment, promoting operational peace of mind for organizations.

Drug Testing Near Diamondville, WY

Bear River, WY

Mountain View, WY

Bridger Valley, WY

Lyman, WY

Urie, WY

Fort Bridger, WY

Granger, WY

Cokeville, WY

Fontenelle, WY

Verne, WY

Carter, WY

Opal, WY

Elkol, WY

Kemmerer, WY

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews