Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Goodland, IN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying alcohol and drug use. It provides a comprehensive history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When taken close to the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol usage over a period of around three months. It is straightforward to collect, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hairs (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil), closest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For tests such as EtG, additional tests, and those above 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing. Should scalp hair not be available, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. "Head hair" specifically refers to hair from the scalp, while "body hair" covers all other types (such as facial or axillary).

Process Overview

The primary steps in processing a drug test in a laboratory are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the process of incorporating a sample into the lab's system. It includes confirming that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any additional data entries if not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial and economical assessment for the presence of drugs of abuse. While it can effectively rule out drug use in many samples, any positive results must be confirmed for legal purposes. Presumptively positive samples from Screening need a secondary confirmation.

If Screening indicates a sample is presumptively positive, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for further preparation in Extraction. In this step, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid tests, which is why hair drug screening is particularly challenging to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples that test presumptively positive are cleaned before confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: It's challenging to deceive a hair drug test, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Shows usage history: It offers an overview of drug use patterns over time, rather than merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent consumption: Drugs typically become detectable in hair after about 5 to 7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally costs more than other methods.
• Results variability: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although termed as "hair follicle tests", such tests actually assess the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why do hair follicle tests outperform urine tests in Goodland, IN? The superior detection accuracy and reliability of hair testing make it far more effective. Employers see a benefit in hair analysis due to its comprehensive detection abilities, compared to the more conventional urine tests that might leave certain periods undetected.

Extended Detection Window

In Goodland, IN, hair follicle testing excels in spotting drug use over an extended detection window, even up to 90 days. This capability offers employers a thorough overview of an individual’s substance history, which is critical for making informed recruitment decisions or maintaining workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Goodland, IN, greatly curtails the opportunity for manipulating results. By relying on hair samples, the integrity of the test is preserved, yielding unquestionable outcomes that stakeholders can confidently trust.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of nationwide and local locations in Goodland, IN ensures streamlined access to hair follicle testing services. With multiple testing centers, clients can rely on quick and hassle-free processes, contributing to an efficient and stress-free experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Offering a simple and confidential process, Accredited Drug Testing in Goodland, IN emphasizes privacy and ease. From placing an order to receiving results, each step is designed with user-friendliness in mind, helping individuals navigate the testing procedure without concern for their personal data.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, our services in Goodland, IN underscore value for companies of all sizes. We aim to not only meet but exceed service expectations, ensuring clients receive economic advantages alongside prompt and effective testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle tests in Goodland, IN, offer fast, accurate, and reliable results—making them a preferred choice for detecting drug use with unprecedented precision. Unlike some tests that may leave room for doubt, hair analysis provides clear and immediate insights into substance use, ensuring effective monitoring.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Goodland, IN gain peace of mind and ensure compliance with enforced drug-free workplace policies by utilizing hair follicle testing. This method minimizes legal risks while fostering a secure work environment, crucial elements of a sound occupational strategy.

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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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