Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bertram, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By trapping biomarkers in the fibers, hair can reveal a prolonged history of substance use. When collected near the scalp, it can provide a detection period of up to around three months for alcohol and drug presence. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or evaluations exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to gather 150mg of the sample. Using a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. In cases where scalp hair is unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair may be utilized. The term 'head hair' pertains exclusively to scalp hair, while 'body hair' includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails integrating a sample into the laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample's proper sealing and transportation, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any required manual data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening executes an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to rule out drug exposure in most samples, a positive result must be verified before it is permissible in legal proceedings. Samples that test presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, the drug extraction is performed at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug testing is notably challenging to administer.

Validation of any positive screening outcome is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation when necessary. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire laboratory procedure is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection duration.
• Challenging to falsify: It is extremely difficult to falsify results in a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of findings.
• Tracks historical use: It can illustrate a pattern of drug consumption over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to recognize recent use: Drugs need approximately 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually incur higher costs compared to other testing methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites present in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually occurs on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Bertram, IA, offers a more robust solution than traditional urine testing. It provides superior detection accuracy and reliability.

Unlike urine tests, hair testing can detect drugs used over a long period, making it more efficient for thorough screenings, particularly for employers seeking zero-tolerance policy enforcement.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Bertram, IA, allows for drug use monitoring up to 90 days. This longitudinal insight aids employers in understanding an individual’s long-term substance habits.

By offering a comprehensive view of an employee’s drug use history, hair testing supports informed decision-making in staffing and talent management processes, promoting a safer workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

With hair follicle testing in Bertram, IA, the risk of sample adulteration is greatly diminished, making it a tamper-resistant drug testing method.

Hair tests ensure the integrity of the results by reducing the chances of manipulation, providing employers and authorities with reliable and credible data that cannot easily be faked or altered.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient nationwide testing locations, including local options in Bertram, IA. This guarantees accessible and hassle-free testing services.

Wherever you are located, our centers ensure you have quick and easy access to testing facilities, seamlessly fitting into your schedule and reducing any logistical burdens.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Bertram, IA, is simple and confidential. Order, take, and receive results with ease, safeguarding your privacy throughout.

Our straightforward procedures ensure that confidentiality is maintained at every step, addressing privacy concerns and providing a user-friendly experience for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our services in Bertram, IA, are not only accurate but also affordable, offering competitive pricing and fast turnaround times.

This combination of value and efficiency ensures businesses of all sizes can benefit from reliable drug testing without strain on their budgets, keeping employee screenings prompt and cost-effective.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Bertram, IA, stands out for its fast, accurate, and reliable results. The method provides precise detection of substance use, ensuring that results are both timely and trustworthy.

The precision of hair tests ensures that substance use is identified with high accuracy. This method's reliability is unmatched, providing assurance for employers and individuals alike that the results reflect true substance history.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Bertram, IA, gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, as it aligns with maintaining drug-free workplace policies, thus mitigating legal risks.

The assurance provided by hair testing bolsters workplace safety, ensuring compliance with industry standards and reinforcing a culture of responsibility and trust among staff.

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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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