Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hillsboro, IA

What it is, How it works

Through the eyes of many, hair testing is now recognized as a formidable method for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair encapsulates a prolonged record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as it extends. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection range of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to adulterate, and easy to transport.

An ideal sampling involves a 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 strands of hair (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yielding 100mg of hair for screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, extended panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be utilized. By head hair, we explicitly refer to scalp hair alone. Body hair encompasses all other varieties such as facial, axillary, etc.

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into the laboratory’s system. This process ensures the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a preliminary, rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples preliminarily testing positive during Screening mandate subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample test preliminarily positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. During Extraction, drugs are removed from hair at a considerably lower concentration than in methods like urine or oral fluid testing, which contributes to the difficulty of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any results screened as positive is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples preliminarily positive undergo a washing step before confirmation, as necessary. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire laboratory procedure is scrutinized to meet both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation requirements.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection range: Hair drug tests can identify drug use spanning up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which possess a shorter detection period.
• Challenge to manipulate: Maneuvering around a hair drug test is arduous, enhancing the credibility of the results.
• Historical usage insight: It can offer a pattern of substance use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Detection in hair takes about 5-7 days post-drug consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally entail higher costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the levels of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Despite commonly being termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The superiority of hair follicle tests over urine samples in Hillsboro, IA, lies in their enhanced detection capability and accuracy. While urine tests reveal recent drug use, hair analysis can detect longer patterns of use, offering a more comprehensive picture.

Employers favor hair tests since they provide a longer detection window and are more reliable, reducing the chances of deception. This thoroughness ensures a more certain assessment of an individual’s drug history.

Extended Detection Window

The standout feature of hair follicle testing is its extended detection window in Hillsboro, IA. While urine tests offer short-term insights, hair analysis covers drug use over a span of up to 90 days, providing a thorough view of someone's substance history.

This extended detection timeframe helps employers to evaluate comprehensively, shedding light on habitual versus isolated drug use, informing decisions with a clearer understanding of candidate behavior.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Hillsboro, IA, hair follicle testing significantly minimizes the likelihood of tampering. Unlike other testing forms, altering hair samples is extremely challenging, ensuring the reliability of the results.

This attribute establishes hair tests as a trusted solution for accurate drug use assessment, allowing stakeholders to rely on unquestioned results that reflect true substance histories.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing presents a seamless experience with our widespread testing locations, including facilities in Hillsboro, IA. Clients benefit from quick and accessible services, removing obstacles in obtaining drug testing.

These national centers promote convenience and efficiency, allowing individuals and corporations effortless access to testing resources wherever they operate.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing process in Hillsboro, IA, is designed with simplicity and confidentiality at its core. Ordering, conducting, and receiving results are streamlined to maintain privacy and accessibility.

This straightforward process ensures individuals feel secure and stress-free, with discreet handling of their testing needs and results managed with professionalism and care.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordability paired with rapid results characterizes our services in Hillsboro, IA. Offering competitive pricing ensures companies of any size gain value without compromising on reliability or timeliness.

Prompt turnaround supports organizational needs, providing a comprehensive service that doesn't sacrifice quality or safety due to budget constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Hillsboro, IA, accredited hair follicle drug tests stand out for their speed and accuracy. Unlike other methods, these tests offer prompt results that reliably pinpoint substance use, giving a high level of confidence to those who rely on them.

Precision in detecting drug residues is inherent to hair analysis, providing a detailed account of possible drug use over extended periods. This feature makes them highly efficient for both employers and individuals.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing offers Hillsboro, IA employers confidence in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This approach minimizes legal hazards and strengthens workplace safety agendas.

Ensuring compliance through precise and dependable testing facilitates peace of mind for employers, affirming their commitment to upholding safety and reducing risks associated with substance abuse.

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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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