Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Greensboro, IN

What it is, How it works

Hair assessment has evolved into a significant resource for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the strands’ fibers as they grow. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer up to roughly a 3-month detection period for substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, slightly challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 hair strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the prime sample for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional factors, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advocated. It is advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is unattainable, a similar volume of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it pertains only to scalp hair. Body hair denotes other types such as facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for a drug test outcome encompasses four central steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary management of a sample into a laboratory system. This process confirms the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any extra information not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for potential drug presence. Though it is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug presence in most samples, a positive screen must be substantiated for court acceptability. Samples that are provisionally positive in Screening must undergo a follow-up confirmation.

For samples that test as provisionally positive during Screening, additional hair is gathered from the initial lot for Extraction. Drugs are then extracted from the hair at a considerably lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), emphasizing the complexity of hair drug analysis.

Any screening results that show positive are validated through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are washed before confirmation as necessary. Every step from Accessioning through to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days prior, surpassing the shorter detection times of urine tests.
• Hard to manipulate: The ability to deceive a hair drug test is minimal, leading to more reliable results.
• Provides historical insight: Reflects a pattern over time rather than only recent drug use.

Limitations:

• Recent use undetectable: Drugs require approximately 5-7 days to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to incur higher costs than alternative testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Greensboro, IN, hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests. With a longer detection window, it provides more comprehensive insights into an individual's drug history. Furthermore, hair testing's accuracy and difficulty to adulterate make it a more reliable choice compared to urine tests, which can miss longer-term drug use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Greensboro, IN, excels with its extended detection period of up to 90 days. This allows employers to gain a more thorough understanding of an individual’s substance use history, aiding in better-informed hiring and workplace decisions, and surpassing the limitations of shorter-term detection methods like urine testing.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Greensboro, IN, hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method offering reliable results. Unlike urine tests, which can be manipulated, hair tests minimize the risk of sample adulteration. This ensures the integrity of the test, giving employers confidence in the validity of the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide and local testing centers in Greensboro, IN, accessing drug testing services is quick and hassle-free. Our centers offer widespread coverage, ensuring individuals and businesses can easily get tested at their nearest location, facilitating stress-free and timely drug testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Greensboro, IN is simple and confidential. It ensures privacy from ordering to receiving results, addressing any concerns regarding ease of use and confidentiality. This straightforward method allows individuals and companies to manage drug testing discreetly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Greensboro, IN, our hair follicle tests offer competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, catering to the needs of businesses of all sizes. This affordability, paired with quick results, ensures a valuable service that provides peace of mind without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests in Greensboro, IN, set them apart. They offer high precision in detecting substance use, ensuring reliable outcomes. With fast processing times, individuals and employers benefit from prompt and dependable results, a significant advantage in decision-making processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Greensboro, IN, gain compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. It supports drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks and enhancing safety. By implementing these tests, companies align with compliance standards, fostering a secure and responsible 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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