Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hastings, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a robust method for the identification of substance use, including drugs and alcohol. Hair captures a prolonged record of such use by embedding biomarkers within its growing strands. When sampled near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, not easily tampered with, and simple to transport.

A sample size of 1.5 inches, comprising roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional panels, and/or when exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest weighting the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be taken. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in the lab processing of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial incorporation of a sample into the laboratory’s system. This step includes ensuring the sample was secured and dispatched correctly, assigning it a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing other needed data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening is a rapid initial analysis for commonly abused drugs. While Screening is cost-effective for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified for court acceptance. Any samples presumed positive during Screening must undergo a second confirmation.

If Screening suggests a positive result, additional hair is extracted from the initial batch and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening remains the most challenging to execute.

Positive screening outcomes are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples identified as presumptive positives are cleaned before the confirmation process as necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection period.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, resulting in higher accuracy of results.
• Tracks usage history: It reveals a timeline of drug consumption over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs require about 5-7 days to be detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally costs more than other testing methodologies.
• Result variations: Drug metabolite concentrations in hair can be influenced by hair color and individual hair growth differences.

Note: Despite being called "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Hastings, IA
Hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing with unmatched detection accuracy and reliability in Hastings, IA. This method captures a wider range of drug use history, outshining traditional urine tests in identifying substance use over an extended period. Its precision and dependability offer greater assurance for employers.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Hastings, IA
Hair follicle testing in Hastings, IA, provides an extensive detection window, uncovering drug use history reaching back up to 90 days. This allows employers a comprehensive view of an applicant or employee's substance habits, ensuring informed decision-making regarding workplace safety and policy adherence.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Hastings, IA
In Hastings, IA, hair follicle tests dramatically reduce the chance of sample tampering, ensuring reliable and unquestionable outcomes. By capturing hair samples, these tests minimize potential manipulation attempts, providing secure and credible drug testing results for employers and individuals alike.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Hastings, IA
With conveniently located testing centers throughout Hastings, IA, and nationwide, accessing drug testing services is hassle-free. This network ensures that testing is quick and easily accessible, meeting the needs of businesses and individuals across various locations effectively.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Hastings, IA
In Hastings, IA, the process of ordering and conducting hair follicle tests is straightforward and confidential. From scheduling to results, the streamlined method caters to privacy concerns, ensuring that individuals and companies have easy and secure access to their drug testing results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Hastings, IA
Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, our hair follicle drug tests in Hastings, IA, deliver excellent value. Companies of all sizes benefit from cost-effective testing solutions, ensuring peace of mind and financial efficiency without sacrificing quality or accuracy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Hastings, IA
In Hastings, IA, hair follicle drug testing offers exceptional accuracy and speed in detecting substance use. The tests quickly and accurately reveal drug use, with reliable analyses that provide clear results. This testing's precision makes it a valuable asset in maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Hastings, IA
Implementing hair follicle testing in Hastings, IA, strengthens compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This approach mitigates legal risks and enhances safety, giving employers confidence in their workforce's adherence to company standards and contributing positively to the 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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