Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ewart, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair evaluations are recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures an extended timeline of alcohol and various drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the maturing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can reveal an approximate 3-month detection duration for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively challenging to alter, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch fragment of about 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for analysis and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for measuring the sample. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent volume of body hair can be collected. When we mention head hair, it signifies scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four foundational phases in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the primary processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This consists of confirming that the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data that isn’t available from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid evaluation for substances of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screening must be validated to be deemed acceptable in court. Any samples that seem positive in Screening do require an additional confirmation.

If a sample is seemingly positive in the Screening step, more hair is taken from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. In this process, drugs are removed from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening considerably more complex to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All likely positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if required. The comprehensive laboratory progression from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined 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 uncover drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to falsify: Cheating on a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It can show a drug use pattern over a duration, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite amounts in hair.

Note: Although commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis concerns the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine testing in Ewart, IA due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, which detect recent drug use, hair tests provide insight into long-term substance use, making them ideal for comprehensive evaluations. This advantage highlights their effectiveness in substance abuse prevention.

Extended Detection Window

In Ewart, IA, one of the significant benefits of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window, covering up to 90 days of past drug use. This feature provides employers with a detailed overview of an employee's substance history, assisting in making informed decisions about workplace safety and productivity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing conducted in Ewart, IA minimizes the potential for sample adulteration, ensuring tamper-resistant results. This method significantly reduces the chance of manipulation, delivering unquestionable outcomes that help maintain integrity and trust in drug testing procedures.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Ewart, IA, our hair follicle testing is supported by convenient nationwide testing locations. These centers, coupled with local availability, ensure that accessing testing services is quick and hassle-free. With such widespread facilities, individuals and employers can easily meet their drug testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Ewart, IA is straightforward and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, clients experience a seamless procedure, ensuring privacy throughout. This ease of use addresses any apprehensions related to confidentiality and the overall simplicity of the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Ewart, IA, hair follicle testing boasts affordable pricing and quick turnaround times, offering excellent value for companies, regardless of their size. This competitive pricing structure, paired with rapid results, ensures businesses can maintain cost-effective and timely drug screening practices.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Ewart, IA offers fast and accurate results. The precision in identifying substance use makes it a preferred choice. With a thorough analysis of hair samples, this method efficiently detects various substances and provides reliable results promptly. Its high accuracy is a boon for both individuals and organizations seeking clarity in drug use screening.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Ewart, IA benefit from using hair follicle testing due to its role in promoting compliance with drug-free workplace policies. These tests reduce legal risks and enhance workplace safety by reliably identifying substance use, providing employers with peace of mind in maintaining a drug-free 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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