Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Malvern, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a powerful method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair strands capture biomarkers as they grow, providing a long-term record of alcohol and drug use. When cut close to the scalp, this hair can offer a detection window of approximately three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to adulterate, and convenient to ship.

Collecting a 1.5-inch sample of about 200 hair strands (approximately the girth of a #2 pencil) from the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the preferred amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is insufficient, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. References to head hair specifically denote scalp hair. Conversely, body hair encompasses all other types (including facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial step wherein a sample enters a laboratory's system. This process includes verifying proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry needed outside of an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective method for eliminating drug use in most samples, a confirming test is essential for any positive screen to be legally accepted. Presumptive positive results from Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

In cases of a presumptive positive result during the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for further processing. This stage, known as Extraction, involves extracting drugs from hair at lower concentrations than methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair drug screening a particularly challenging technique.

Confirmed positive results from Screening are verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples with presumptive positives are washed before confirmation if required. The complete laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests may reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, offering a much longer window than urine tests.
• Difficult to deceive: The likelihood of cheating on a hair drug test is very low, ensuring more reliable results.
• Historical insight: It supplies data on drug use patterns over time, rather than simply recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lack of recent use detection: Drugs need approximately 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair drug tests are generally pricier than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests," these procedures assess the hair strand itself, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Malvern, IA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine testing with its enhanced detection capabilities.

Employers benefit from the thorough, accurate results offered by hair tests, avoiding common pitfalls associated with urine testing. The reliability of hair testing strengthens its role in maintaining workplace safety.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Malvern, IA, provides a comprehensive overview of substance use.

Employers gain insights into applicants' and employees' drug histories, aiding informed hiring and monitoring decisions. This extended window places hair testing at a significant advantage over shorter-term testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Malvern, IA, introduces hair follicle testing, known for minimizing chances of tampering.

This testing method deters sample adulteration, delivering results that are both reliable and unquestionable. Its tamper-resistant nature ensures employers receive authentic assessments of drug use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible testing services in Malvern, IA, are offered through our extensive network of nationwide testing locations.

This ensures a convenient and hassle-free process, providing quick access to testing services for individuals and employers alike, reinforcing the convenience offered by our testing centers.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Malvern, IA, the testing process prioritizes simplicity and confidentiality.

From ordering to receiving results, the steps involved are straightforward, ensuring privacy and ease. This addresses concerns about the process whilst maintaining confidentiality throughout all stages.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing in Malvern, IA, makes drug testing both affordable and efficient.

With fast turnaround times, our services offer excellent value to companies, ensuring cost-effectiveness without compromising on quality—benefiting businesses of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug tests in Malvern, IA, boast high precision. Their meticulous methodology ensures accurate detection of even minimal substance use.

Renowned for their speed, these tests consistently deliver results with minimal delay, supporting prompt decision-making. Their reliability makes them indispensable in time-sensitive scenarios.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Malvern, IA, are assured of compliance with hair follicle testing.

The test promotes adherence to drug-free policies, reduces legal risks, and ensures a safer work environment—key aspects that bring peace of mind to companies prioritizing safety and legality.

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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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