Hair Follicle Drug Testing - New Salem, IN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a comprehensive history of substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can deliver approximately a 3-month detection timeline for alcohol and various drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample, consisting of about 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal sample size for screening and verification. For EtG, additional chemical analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is recommended. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a similar amount of body hair can be collected. The term head hair is restricted to scalp hair solely. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four key stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the primary processing of a sample into a laboratory’s database. This comprises ensuring the sample was meticulously sealed and transported, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concluding any remaining data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening encompasses an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient strategy to dismiss drug usage for most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be admissible in legal contexts. Any samples deemed presumptively positive in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction preparation. In this segment, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging approach to administer.

Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation alongside the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which possess a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is exceedingly difficult to deceive a hair drug test, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: Capable of depicting a pattern of drug usage over an extended duration, rather than recent use solely.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs typically require about 5-7 days to become visible in hair.
• Costly: Hair drug tests are generally pricier compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result discrepancies: Variables such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the examination itself analyzes the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In New Salem, IN, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests by providing extended detection periods and nearly foolproof accuracy. Advantages include its ability to identify drug use up to 90 days prior, far outpacing the typical short window of urine tests. This longer timeline offers a clearer view of a person's potential substance use habits, enhancing decision-making for employers and legal authorities seeking dependable results.

Extended Detection Window

The hair follicle drug test conducted in New Salem, IN, boasts an extended detection window of up to 90 days, vastly superior to urine tests' usual limitations. This prolonged period allows employers a more comprehensive insight into an individual's substance use history. Employers benefit by obtaining a more complete understanding of behavior patterns, ensuring informed hiring decisions and employee assessments based on historical substance use data.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

New Salem, IN, employers benefit from the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle drug tests, which makes sample manipulation nearly impossible. Unlike other tests that might be altered, hair tests provide unquestionably reliable results due to their robust collection and analysis process. This ensures that the findings accurately reflect an individual's drug use, minimizing risks associated with dishonest attempts to produce false negatives.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

New Salem, IN, benefits from the vast network of testing centers available nationwide, offering convenience and ease for individuals needing drug testing. Local centers ensure speedy access to testing services, minimizing logistics issues and ensuring that individuals can comply with testing requirements swiftly. This wide-reaching availability streamlines the testing process, making it hassle-free and efficient for all parties involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

The drug testing process in New Salem, IN, emphasizes simplicity and confidentiality, safeguarding privacy throughout the procedure. Ordering and taking hair follicle tests involves straightforward steps, ensuring a hassle-free experience for users. Confidential results keep sensitive information protected, addressing concerns about privacy and ensuring the process remains discreet and user-friendly from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

New Salem, IN, drug testing services provide competitive pricing paired with a rapid results delivery, offering excellent value for companies of varying sizes. Fast turnaround times mean businesses can make timely hiring decisions, maintaining momentum in their operations. Affordable pricing combined with efficient service ensures that drug testing remains accessible and cost-effective for all employers seeking reliable substance screening.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in New Salem, IN, stands out for its fast and precise results. This method detects substance use with high accuracy, identifying even minimal traces of drug use over extended periods. Reliability in results provides peace of mind for employers, ensuring only those who adhere to company standards are employed. The swift process means results are available without prolonged waiting times, crucial for timely decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in New Salem, IN, aligns with workplace safety and drug-free policies by offering compliant and reliable results. By ensuring adherence to established standards, it enhances peace of mind for employers, significantly reducing potential legal risks associated with substance misuse. This testing method supports a safer, more productive work environment by reliably identifying non-compliant behaviors among employees.

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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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