Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Webster, IN

What it is, How it works

Hair examinations have emerged as a formidable method for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a chronicle of drug and alcohol use over a prolonged period by embedding biomarkers within the threads of the hair shaft. When procured near the scalp, hair can offer up to an approximately 90-day window of detection for alcohol and substances. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section comprising around 200 hairs (similar in dimension to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for both analysis and confirmation. For testing EtG, specific add-ons, and/or panels exceeding ten, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is advisable to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair may be utilized. When mentioning head hair, we are specifying scalp hair solely. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process of analyzing a drug test result comprises four pivotal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first step in receiving a sample into the laboratory system. This step ensures that the specimen was correctly sealed and transported, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data input absent from an electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening offers an initial rapid evaluation for drug abuse. Though Screening is a cost-efficient method to negate drug presence in the majority of specimens, a positive screen must be verified for court acceptability. Any presumptively positive samples during Screening necessitate a subsequent confirmation.

Once a sample is presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the primary sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug analysis is regarded as the most intricate method to conduct.

Positive Screening outcomes are validated using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptively positive are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and is accredited with ISO / IEC 17025 certification.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug analyses can discover drug usage extending up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which feature a limited detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers historical insight: It delivers a chronology of drug consumption over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It generally takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become discernible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair development can impact the levels of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Referred to frequently as "hair follicle tests", the examination evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Choose Hair Testing?

• Webster, IN prefers hair tests because they deliver superior detection accuracy.
• Unlike urine tests, hair tests reveal a broader history of drug use.

Reliable detection and accuracy make hair testing invaluable for local employers.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Timeline

• In Webster, IN, hair tests provide up to 90 days view of substance usage.
• This broad timeframe helps employers make informed decisions about applicants or employees.

Such extensive detection offers a substantial advantage over shorter-range tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Reliability Through Resistance

• Hair follicle testing in Webster, IN reduces sample adulteration risks significantly.
• The method delivers results that are almost impossible to tamper with.

Employers trust this method for its integrity and reliability.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience Across the Map

• Accredited Testing's network ensures testing convenience with numerous nationwide centers.
• In Webster, IN, access is hassle-free, with local locations ensuring minimal travel.

Accessibility and ease define our testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Effortless and Private

• The hair testing process in Webster, IN is straightforward and confidential.
• Our system reassures clients of privacy from order to result.

The ease of our procedures makes drug testing stress-free and secure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Value and Quick Returns

• Our competitive pricing in Webster, IN ensures affordable drug testing solutions.
• Quick turnaround times add to the value we provide for businesses of any size.

The blend of cost-effectiveness and speed defines our services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and Speed Combined

• Hair follicle testing in Webster, IN offers unmatched accuracy and rapid results, making it the test of choice for many.
• For detecting substance use, its precision outstrips that of traditional methods.
• Timely results ensure swift decisions and assessments.

Employers benefit immensely from the reliable and quick outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Assurance for Employers

• Employing hair tests in Webster, IN ensures compliance with drug-free mandates.
• Reduced legal risks and safer workplaces stem from adherence to these policies.

The method ensures peace of mind through its thorough approach.

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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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