Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Arlington, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged historical record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use up to roughly a 3-month period. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.

A 1.5-inch section with about 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the standard sample for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional panels, and/or tests surpassing 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It's beneficial to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The process has four primary stages in the lab-based processing of a drug test: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a specimen into a laboratory’s system. This process verifies that the specimen was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs a preliminary rapid analysis for common drugs of abuse. While it is a cost-efficient method for eliminating drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for judicial acceptance. Any samples with presumptive positive results in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. Drugs are extracted at significantly lower concentrations than with alternate methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methods to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed where necessary prior to confirmation. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a briefer detection period.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely difficult, making outcomes more reliable.
• Offers usage history: It provides a record of drug use patterns over time, beyond just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Around 5-7 days are needed for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Though frequently called "hair follicle tests", the examination analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers a distinctive edge over urine testing in Arlington, IA. Its primary advantage is the exceptional accuracy and reliability it provides in detecting drug use. While traditional urine tests can sometimes yield questionable results due to their shorter detection window, hair testing captures a broader range of substance use, minimizing the risk of false negatives, thus providing employers with a clearer picture of an individual's substance history.

Extended Detection Window

The strength of hair follicle testing in Arlington, IA lies in its extended detection window. Capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior, it gives employers a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance history. This extended timeframe is invaluable in creating a detailed profile of an applicant or employee, especially when assessing ongoing compliance with workplace safety and drug policies over time.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the key advantages of hair follicle drug testing in Arlington, IA is its tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other testing methods, hair tests substantially minimize the possibility of sample adulteration. This ensures employers receive reliable and irrefutable results, enhancing the overall trust and validity of the testing process. With hair testing, questions of authenticity are diminished, providing peace of mind in substance use assessment.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing, with its widespread reach, offers convenience through multiple testing locations across Arlington, IA. Our nationwide network ensures that accessing drug testing services is quick, straightforward, and hassle-free. Whether local or across states, our extensive presence guarantees timely and efficient service for each test, meeting the diverse needs of employers and individuals alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simplicity and confidentiality of our hair follicle testing process in Arlington, IA guarantee customer satisfaction. Ordering tests is straightforward, with secure, private data management throughout each step, from sample collection to the delivery of results. This method respects privacy concerns, ensuring individuals and employers experience ease-of-use while maintaining strict confidentiality standards.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and swift turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services in Arlington, IA provide exceptional value to companies of every size. Our competitive pricing models paired with rapid results help relieve stress for employers navigating business costs while discouraging substance abuse, ultimately ensuring a balanced approach to maintaining a drug-free workplace environment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Arlington, IA, opting for hair follicle drug tests assures you of speed and precision. With a reputation for rapidly delivering accurate results, these tests stand out by ensuring detection of substance usage with remarkable accuracy. This efficiency is beneficial for employers and individuals alike, providing immediate and trustworthy insights into drug usage history, which is essential for making informed decisions regarding employment and compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Arlington, IA, hair follicle testing simplifies compliance with drug-free workplace policies, thereby reducing legal liabilities and boosting workplace safety. Adopting this testing method not only aligns with zero-tolerance standards but also brings assurance that employees adhere to necessary regulations. Thus, companies can experience a more secure and peace-promoting workplace environment.

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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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