Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Nashville, IN

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of developing hair. When retrieved near the scalp, hair can offer up to a roughly 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient for shipping.

A recommended sample size of 1.5 inches with approximately 200 hair strands (similar to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is an optimal amount for testing and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale is suggested for measuring the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. Referring to head hair implies specifically scalp hair. Body hair covers all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug testing laboratory process involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning focuses on the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s system. It involves ensuring the sample’s seal and shipping were correct, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While it serves as a cost-effective method to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal acceptance. Presumptive positive samples in Screening indeed require further confirmation.

For a sample with a presumptive positive screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are drawn from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other strategies (for instance, urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screen result is accomplished through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptively positive are cleaned prior to confirmation as needed. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, contrary to urine tests which have a more limited detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: It's highly challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing the reliability of the outcomes.
• Shows historical patterns: Hair tests can illustrate a trend of drug use over time, not solely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent intake: Detecting drugs in hair takes approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Though often described as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is performed on the hair shaft, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why opt for hair follicle testing in Nashville, IN? The advantages are crystal clear. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis boasts superior detection accuracy and dependability. Hair tests give a broader insight into substance use, unlike urine tests that only capture recent consumption. This evergreen choice ensures organizations uphold stringent drug-free environments with ease and efficacy.

Extended Detection Window

The standout feature of hair follicle testing in Nashville, IN is its extended detection window. By analyzing drug use up to 90 days prior, this method arms employers with an extensive view of an individual’s history. This timeline aids in thorough background checks, reinforcing informed hiring decisions and fostering a safer workplace environment where history is acknowledged.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Nashville, IN, tampering with hair follicle tests is a near impossibility. This testing methodology ensures tamper-resistant results, making information both credible and trustworthy. By greatly minimizing the risk of sample alteration, businesses can trust the results, bolstering confidence in their drug-testing processes while safeguarding company standards against manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Enjoy easy access to testing services with testing centers conveniently located nationwide, including Nashville, IN. Whether you're local or operating across multiple sites, our testing locations are quick to reach, simple to use, and hassle-free, ensuring that drug testing needs are met without unnecessary delays or complexities.

Simple, Confidential Process

Experience a simple and confidential drug testing process in Nashville, IN. Ordering, participating in, and receiving hair follicle test results is streamlined to ensure user-friendly interactions. Concerns about privacy and data protection are addressed with care, fostering trust and transparency with all involved parties.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing structures and rapid responses, hair follicle testing in Nashville, IN offers exceptional value for businesses. Our affordable options and swift turnarounds provide peace of mind for companies regardless of their size, supporting fiscal stewardship while maintaining high professional standards in drug testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Nashville, IN, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their fast and accurate results. These tests swiftly get to the core of drug use, offering reliable outcomes that employers can trust. Unlike traditional methods, hair testing presents a powerful tool in identifying substance use with unparalleled precision, ideal for stringent workplace settings. Speed and precision underpin their adoption.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle testing in Nashville, IN means adhering to workplace drug-free policies effortlessly. This not only ensures compliance but also grants peace of mind to employers. By reducing legal risks and promoting a secure workplace, organizations maintain a stable environment where operations run smoothly, unhampered by substance-related incidents.

Drug Testing Near Nashville, IN

Freetown, IN

Kurtz, IN

Smithville-Sanders, IN

Taylorsville, IN

Maxwell, IN

Trafalgar, IN

Monroe, IN

Bloomington, IN

Painted Hills, IN

Princes Lakes, IN

Morgantown, IN

Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN

Trevlac, IN

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