Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lucas, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now regarded as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers a prolonged history of alcohol and other substances by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands of the advancing hair. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer as much as a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and uncomplicated to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for analysis and confirmation. For EtG inclusions, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. The term head hair specifically pertains to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory handling of a drug test result involves four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of initially entering a sample into a lab's system. This step verifies proper sealing and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening constitutes a preliminary rapid check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to dismiss drug use in most samples, a confirmed screen is needed for legal proceedings. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require a secondary validation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive at the Screening stage, further hair is extracted from the initial sample for preparation in the Extraction phase. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive screen is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, presumptive positive samples are cleaned as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited per ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests recognize drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a briefer detection timeframe.
• Reduced likelihood of deception: Hair drug tests are challenging to compromise, enhancing accuracy.
• Offers usage history: It reveals a pattern of substance consumption over time, not solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent intake: Detection in hair takes around 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Frequently called "hair follicle tests", these tests evaluate the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Lucas, IA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests with several advantages.
Benefits of Hair Testing:

• Longer detection window for drug use.
• Higher accuracy in detecting substance presence.
• Reduces chances of test manipulation.

Employers and legal bodies prefer hair tests due to these superior detection abilities and reliability over time.

Extended Detection Window

In Lucas, IA, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, capturing drug use history for up to 90 days. This approach allows employers to gain a thorough understanding of an employee's substance use habits, ensuring informed hiring decisions. Comprehensive View: By evaluating a longer term of substance use, hair testing gives a more complete profile of an individual’s drug history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secured Testing: Hair follicle tests in Lucas, IA, are designed to significantly reduce sample tampering.
By utilizing hair samples, which are less likely to be adulterated compared to other sample types,
these tests provide reliable and trustworthy results. This ensures a more accurate reflection of an individual’s substance use history, a crucial factor for employers seeking authenticity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Nationwide Testing Network: Lucas, IA, enjoys the convenience of comprehensive testing services thanks to Accredited Drug Testing’s
nationally accessible centers.
Quick, easy, and hassle-free access to our services ensures everyone can complete their necessary tests timely. Our local and national reach guarantees availability when and where it is needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Lucas, IA, is straightforward and maintains confidentiality.

• Order the test easily online or via call.
• Visit your nearest testing location.
• Receive results swiftly and securely.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Advantages: In Lucas, IA, we offer affordable pricing and quick turnaround times for hair follicle testing. Our cost-effective plans suit businesses of all sizes, ensuring great value without compromising quality. Companies benefit from our extra-fast result delivery, coupled with reliable testing processes — all at prices that make compliance accessible.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Speed and Accuracy: In Lucas, IA, hair follicle drug tests are known for providing
fast, accurate outcomes. These tests excel in detecting various substances with high precision,
ensuring that any substance use is accurately identified. The methodology allows for efficient and dependable results, giving both organizations and individuals peace of mind with every test conducted.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Lucas, IA, gain compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. Workplace Safety: This method aligns with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks. Hair testing assures that companies adhere to necessary regulations, enhancing overall workplace safety and reducing potential liabilities, making it an invaluable tool for responsible employers.

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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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