Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Liverpool, IN

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extensive timeline of substance use by securing biomarkers within the emerging hair's fibers. When acquired near the scalp, hair can present a detection period of up to roughly 3 months for substances like alcohol and narcotics. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (around the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, an optimal amount for initial and confirmatory analysis. For EtG, additional tests, or panels over 10, it's best to use 150mg. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for precise measurement. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent volume of body hair can be taken. By head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair relates to all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning involves the sample’s preliminary processing into the lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any needed data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening carries out an initial rapid evaluation for drug abuse. While cost-efficient for excluding drug usage in many samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be legally valid. Presumptive positive results from Screening do call for further confirmation.

Should the Screening stage yield a presumptively positive outcome, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair in substantially lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring hair drug screening as the most challenging technique to execute.

Positive screening results go through Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed as needed prior to confirmation. Every aspect of the laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and accreditation according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which capture a narrower timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: Hair drug tests are notably resistant to tampering, rendering the findings more reliable.
• Chronicles past usage: It displays a drug-use pattern over time, not just recent instances.

Limitations:

• Detects no recent use: Drugs need around 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally come at a higher price than other testing approaches.
• Potential result deviations: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth differences can sway the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the assessment examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Liverpool, IN, hair follicle testing holds significant advantages over traditional urine tests. Hair testing provides superior detection accuracy, offering comprehensive insights due to its longer detection window. This makes it a more reliable choice for employers seeking to maintain drug-free workplaces. Unlike urine tests, hair analyses are less prone to manipulation, providing peace of mind with their trustworthy results.

Extended Detection Window

Liverpool, IN, benefits greatly from hair follicle testing, which reveals drug use up to 90 days back. This extended detection window provides a thorough overview of a candidate's or employee's substance history, aiding employers in making informed decisions. With its ability to track prolonged drug use, hair analysis offers a broader perspective than other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Liverpool, IN, hair follicle tests are known for their tamper-resistant qualities, significantly reducing sample adulteration risks. Conducted under strict supervision, these tests provide reliable and unquestionable results. The hair sample's inherent composition makes it difficult to alter, ensuring that any detection of drug use is genuine and reflective of actual substance consumption.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing locations, including Liverpool, IN, Accredited Drug Testing makes the testing process accessible and hassle-free. Whether you need a local or out-of-city test, our centers provide quick and efficient services, minimizing disruptions and ensuring seamless access to necessary testing facilities.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Liverpool, IN, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving results is streamlined to address privacy concerns effectively. Our process ensures that clients can confidently and effortlessly complete tests, knowing their information is handled with the highest confidentiality standards.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Liverpool, IN, offers competitive pricing and quick result turnaround. Our cost-effective structures ensure excellent value for businesses of all sizes. Coupled with fast processing times, we provide companies with efficient solutions to meet their testing needs without compromising quality or reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Liverpool, IN offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision in detecting substance use is unmatched, ensuring that employers have complete confidence in the results. Hair tests boast superior accuracy, picking up trace amounts of substances that other tests might miss. This ensures a high level of reliability in understanding an individual's substance use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Liverpool, IN, gain compliance and peace of mind by adopting hair follicle tests. These tests help ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies, thereby reducing legal exposure and enhancing overall workplace safety. Employers can rest easy knowing their chosen drug testing method is both effective and compliant with industry standards.

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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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