Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Raglesville, IN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for detecting consumption of drugs and alcohol. Hair retains biomarkers within the fibers of the strand as it grows, offering a prolonged history of substance use. When hair is taken near the scalp, it can reveal up to a three-month timeline for detecting drugs and alcohol. Collecting hair is easy, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample of roughly 1.5 inches consisting of about 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation processes. For EtG, additional assays, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's suggested to weigh the hair sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not obtainable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, it strictly refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for analyzing a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first phase where a sample is integrated into a laboratory’s system. This step confirms the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any missing data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening provides a cost-efficient method to rule out drug consumption for most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be legally admissible. Samples indicating presumptive positives in Screening require additional confirmation.

When a sample shows a presumptive positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and processed for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug testing is among the most intricate methodologies to perform.

For any positive results from screening, confirmation is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and holds accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use for up to 90 days, compared to the shorter timeframe of urine tests.
• Resistant to manipulation: The difficulty in undermining a hair drug test contributes to the accuracy of the results.
• Historical usage data: It offers insights into a pattern of drug usage over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: Drugs typically require about 5-7 days to be detectable within hair.
• Expense: Typically, hair drug tests cost more than other methods of drug testing.
• Result variability: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the levels of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Raglesville, IN, hair follicle testing is favored over urine testing due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair testing offers a broader detection window, making it a more dependable option for employers who need a thorough assessment of an individual’s drug use history.

Extended Detection Window

For employers in Raglesville, IN, hair follicle testing is the choice method due to its extended detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This gives them a broader view of a person's drug use history over a substantial period, aiding in making informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Raglesville, IN are significantly tamper-resistant. This testing method minimizes the likelihood of sample tampering, providing unquestionable reliability. The integrity of the samples collected is maintained, offering employers confidence in the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Raglesville, IN benefits from the convenience of numerous testing centers nationwide. Accredited Drug Testing presents straightforward, hassle-free access to drug testing services both locally and across the country, ensuring quick and easy testing experiences.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Raglesville, IN is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving test results, this streamlined process addresses any concerns about privacy or complexity, ensuring individuals feel at ease throughout their experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Raglesville, IN offers affordable pricing and quick turnaround times. This pricing structure ensures companies of varying sizes receive excellent value, ensuring rapid delivery of test results without strain on budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Raglesville, IN trusts hair follicle drug tests for their precision and swiftness in results. These tests offer high accuracy in detecting substances, ensuring that employers get fast, reliable data on substance use. Hair testing allows for a quick turnaround without compromising on the precision of detecting various drugs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Raglesville, IN, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, giving employers peace of mind. This test reduces potential legal risks and fosters a safer working environment by ensuring all staff adhere to company guidelines regarding substance use.

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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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