Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bellevue, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol use. It offers an extensive overview of alcohol and drug history through biomarkers that are encased in the hair's fibers as it grows. Collecting hair near the scalp can deliver a detection timeframe of up to 90 days for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.

A 1.5-inch hair sample of about 200 strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) cut near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advisable. We advocate using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable quantity of body hair is suitable. References to head hair imply only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results consists of four fundamental steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves incorporating a sample into a laboratory’s system. This step includes ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not encompassed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial swift assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective method to exclude drug consumption in most samples, a positive result from Screening must be validated for legal proceedings. Samples that are tentatively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If the Screening stage reveals a tentative positive sample, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction process. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at markedly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of a positive screening outcome is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples suggested as positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is appraised under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which have a reduced detection period.
• Difficult to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Historical data provision: It offers a pattern of drug use over time, unlike tests that only show recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand, and not the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bellevue, IA is evident in its superior detection capabilities. Hair tests provide a longer detection window and are less prone to tampering, ensuring more reliable results over traditional urine examinations.

Employing hair follicle tests over urine tests empowers organizations with greater assurance in the results, as these tests are challenging to manipulate and provide comprehensive substance use data.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bellevue, IA provided by hair follicle testing stands out, offering insight into drug use history for up to 90 days. Such extensive coverage allows employers to better understand an individual's long-term substance habits.

This prolonged detection interval surpasses standard testing methods, granting a more thorough evaluation of past drug use and enhancing decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bellevue, IA is a notable feature of hair follicle tests. These tests significantly minimize the possibility of tampering, thereby providing trustworthy and undeniable outcomes that organizations can depend on.

The robust collection and testing procedures make it exceedingly difficult to adulterate samples, safeguarding the integrity of results and ensuring reliability.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bellevue, IA ensure that individuals have access to our services wherever they may be. Our extensive network provides quick, convenient, and uncomplicated access to testing facilities.

The wide-reaching availability of our testing centers ensures seamless and accessible service for all clients nationwide.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bellevue, IA guarantees a stress-free testing experience. From initiating the order to receiving results, the process remains discrete and user-friendly, addressing any privacy concerns effectively.

The straightforward steps involved in our testing services promote confidence and provide ease of mind during the entire testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bellevue, IA make our service offerings attractive to companies of any size. By offering competitive pricing with prompt result delivery, we provide outstanding value and assurance.

Organizations benefit from economical options and rapid service, ensuring both financial efficiency and quick access to necessary results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bellevue, IA are crucial, and our hair follicle testing process delivers precisely that. This method boasts high accuracy and speed, detecting substance use with remarkable reliability, ensuring peace of mind for all involved.

With expedited processing and detailed analysis, hair follicle tests offer swift results without sacrificing precision, making them ideal for those in need of urgent testing services.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bellevue, IA are enhanced through hair follicle testing, which aligns with workplace drug-free policies. Utilizing hair tests helps decrease legal risks, bolstering workplace safety and compliance.

By adopting this method, employers can confidently uphold their zero-tolerance policies and ensure a safe environment for all employees.

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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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