Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Quincy, IN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow, hair offers an extended history of substance use. When taken close to the scalp, it can reveal drug and alcohol use for as long as three months. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, is not easily tampered with, and is convenient to transport.

A sample of approximately 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil size), taken nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample size of 150mg is advisable. Utilization of a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing is suggested. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair alone, whereas "body hair" encompasses various other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory analysis of a drug test result consists of the following four steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample undergoes initial processing into the laboratory’s system, including verification of proper sealing and shipment, assignment of a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completion of any additional data entry required outside of an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Though cost-efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, any positive screening results require confirmation to be legally valid. Samples with presumptive positives in the Screening phase necessitate further confirmation.

For samples flagged as presumptive positives during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. This involves extracting drugs from hair at a much lower concentration than alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid tests), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation for any positive screening results is carried out with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned prior to confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Compared to urine tests, hair drug tests can discover drug usage up to 90 days.
• Cheating is not easy: The results of a hair drug test are difficult to falsify, ensuring their reliability.
• Provides usage patterns: It reveals a chronological record of drug use, instead of only recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days after intake.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than various other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth may influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Despite being commonly called "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis pertains to the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why choose hair follicle over urine testing in Quincy, IN? The hair follicle test stands out for its ability to uncover a longer history of drug usage. While urine tests offer immediate detection, hair testing delivers a broader view over months, marking it far superior in assessing long-term patterns of use. This superior detection accuracy makes hair testing a reliable choice for organizations serious about maintaining a safe and compliant environment.

Extended Detection Window

Extended detection coverages make hair follicle testing a powerful tool in Quincy, IN. Capable of revealing drug use up to 90 days prior, it offers employers a clearer understanding of an individual’s substance history. This extended window of detection allows businesses to ensure their teams remain drug-free over extended periods, unlike the short-term focus offered by traditional methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Quincy, IN, hair follicle drug tests provide a tamper-resistant solution in drug screening. The test significantly reduces the possibility of sample alteration or adulteration, ensuring that the results are reliable. This makes it an invaluable method in environments where both accuracy and integrity are paramount, offering peace of mind with its nearly foolproof protection against gaming the system.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessing testing services is made convenient with our nationwide and local Quincy, IN locations. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that you can quickly, and easily get tested without the hassle of traveling far. Whether you're near or far, our widespread network of centers supports your need for efficient drug testing access, simplifying the process for everyone involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process is straightforward and confidential in Quincy, IN. Ordering, taking the test, and receiving the results is designed to respect your privacy while offering simplicity in steps. Accredited Drug Testing makes it easy for clients to proceed through their testing with peace of mind, knowing their information remains confidential throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing, Accredited Drug Testing in Quincy, IN, ensures you receive excellent value for your investment. Our efficient turnaround times complement the attractive pricing, delivering timely results that help businesses operate smoothly. This combination of affordability and speed makes it a favorable choice for companies of all sizes seeking quality drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug testing distinguish it significantly from other methods available in Quincy, IN. Known for its high precision, this testing option provides clear and dependable results that make it ideal for detecting substance use. Employers and individuals benefit from the reliability that this testing process delivers, allowing for informed decisions based on its thorough and detailed analysis.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Quincy, IN, gives employers peace of mind by ensuring compliance with drug-free policies. By utilizing such reliable testing, organizations can effectively mitigate the chances of workplace incidents related to substance abuse. It's a proactive approach that not only helps maintain a safe working environment but also minimizes legal risks associated with drug use on company premises.

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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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