Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Spurgeon, IN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair records a long-term history of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. When sampled near the scalp, hair can indicate drug and alcohol use for up to roughly a 3-month period. It is easy to collect hair, fairly resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests above 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It is recommended to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. When referring to head hair, it is specifically about scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The procedure for processing a drug test result in a lab involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of integrating a sample into a laboratory’s system. This entails confirming that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data entry that is not captured by an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening entails a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly method for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive result requires validation to be accepted in legal proceedings. Samples that appear positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen to be readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are withdrawn from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are presumptively positive undergo washing prior to confirmation if necessary. The full lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 norms.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to evade: It is exceedingly tough to tamper with a hair drug test, thus making the outcomes more reliable.
• Offers historical view: It provides an overview of drug consumption over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually incur higher costs compared to other methods of drug testing.
• Inconsistencies in results: Elements such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites within the hair.

Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Compared to urine tests, hair follicle testing in Spurgeon, IN offers outstanding detection capabilities, ensuring accurate outcomes. While urine tests have been traditional, hair testing surpasses them in its reliability and extended detection window, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive glimpse into substance usage.

Extended Detection Window

In Spurgeon, IN, hair follicle testing prevails in detecting drug use over lengthy durations, often reaching up to 90 days. This extensive detection period allows employers to gain a broad understanding of an applicant or employee's substance use history, ensuring informed decisions regarding resource management.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Spurgeon, IN marks a breakthrough in ensuring uncompromised results. The tamper-resistant methodology inherent to hair testing significantly curtails the threat of sample adulteration. This provides a dependable and incontrovertible testing outcome, securing robustness and trustworthiness in substance evaluation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing centers spanning nationwide, Spurgeon, IN offers convenient access for all. This extensive network ensures that obtaining reliable testing services is straightforward and hassle-free, providing prompt solutions to meet drug testing needs efficiently and locally.

Simple, Confidential Process

The straightforward and private protocol for hair follicle testing in Spurgeon, IN addresses privacy and usability. Simplifying the process of order placement, test participation, and result acquisition ensures a seamless experience, promoting client comfort and confidentiality throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Spurgeon, IN boasts competitive pricing for hair follicle testing, coupled with rapid result turnaround. Offering remarkable value, this service is accessible for businesses of all scales, pairing affordability with expediency for premier drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and swiftness mark the efficacy of hair follicle drug testing in Spurgeon, IN. This method boasts high precision in identifying substance use, offering reliable results swiftly. Hair testing not only expedites the process but assures stakeholders of its credibility and accuracy, making it a preferred choice for efficient drug detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Spurgeon, IN, find assurance in hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace mandates. This testing method aids in minimizing legal liabilities while reinforcing workplace safety, offering peace of mind and security in organizational operations and personnel protocols.

Drug Testing Near Spurgeon, IN

Chandler, IN

Tennyson, IN

Boonville, IN

Sulphur Springs, IN

Holland, IN

Elberfeld, IN

Francisco, IN

Winslow, IN

Selvin, IN

Oakland City, IN

Mackey, IN

Somerville, IN

Lynnville, IN

Coe, IN

Enos Corner, 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