Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN

What it is, How it works

As a significant method for detecting drug and alcohol usage, hair testing is gaining recognition. Hair captures biomarkers within the fibers as it grows, providing a prolonged record of alcohol and other drug consumption. When taken close to the scalp, it offers up to a 3-month window for identifying alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of about 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's size) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and testing beyond 10 panels, it's advisable to use 150mg of the hair sample. We suggest measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, the same proportion of body hair can be used. Our reference to head hair strictly means scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (such as facial or axillary).

Procedure Summary

The primary phases of processing a drug test result in a lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the sample's initial integration into the laboratory system. This involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and sent, providing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening provides a primary, swift assessment for drugs of abuse. Though it offers a cost-efficient means to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to stand in legal proceedings. Any samples that appear to be positive during Screening require an additional confirmation.

Should a sample appear positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for preparation in the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are removed from the hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid). This explains why conducting hair drug testing is particularly challenging.

Confirmation of any positive screened result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all samples that seem positive are cleansed as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and accredits to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing detects drug consumption for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have shorter detection durations.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is quite difficult, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Shows historical patterns: It reveals patterns of drug use over a timeline rather than recent consumption alone.

Drawbacks:

• Unable to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair within about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally costs more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though often termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The effectiveness of hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests is clear in Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN. Hair testing not only offers a superior level of detection accuracy but also provides greater reliability. Its extensive detection window surpasses that of urine tests, making it the preferred choice for identifying long-term drug use. This method eliminates common pitfalls associated with urine testing.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN, stands out for its extended detection window. Capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior, it offers employers an exhaustive perspective of an individual's substance history. This long-range detection is advantageous for assessing potential hires or monitoring current employees' compliance with drug-free policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The robustness of hair follicle testing in Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN, lies in its tamper-resistant nature. This method significantly lowers the risk of sample adulteration, yielding results that are both credible and secure. It acts as a deterrent against the manipulation of test outcomes, ensuring that the results are honest and reflective of true substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing locations nationwide, Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN residents benefit from the convenience of Accredited Drug Testing’s services. Our local and national centers ensure that accessing drug testing is swift and easy, minimizing wait times and simplifying the process for individuals and companies alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be both simple and confidential. The procedure for scheduling, conducting, and receiving test results is straightforward, ensuring user privacy and ease. This streamlined approach encourages broader participation while addressing any privacy concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordability and expedited processing make hair follicle testing in Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN, an excellent choice for organizations of all sizes. Our competitive pricing models, combined with fast turnaround times, deliver exceptional value. This ensures companies can maintain their budgets while still obtaining timely results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN, hair follicle drug testing provides fast, precise, and dependable results. These tests are highly accurate in detecting the presence of substances, offering a reliable measure of substance use. The meticulous analysis of hair samples ensures quick processing times, efficiently delivering results that stakeholders can trust for decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN, hair follicle testing facilitates compliance with drug-free workplace mandates. By reducing the legal risks associated with drug use, this method fosters a culture of safety and responsibility. Employers gain peace of mind knowing their policies are supported by a comprehensive and reliable testing method.

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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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