Hair Follicle Drug Testing - New Providence, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended historical record of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can demonstrate a detection period up to roughly three months for substances such as alcohol and drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (about comparable to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for analysis and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or evaluations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advocated. We suggest measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent portion of body hair can be gathered. By head hair, we mean solely scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary phases in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab's system. This entails confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any supplementary data not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes an introductory rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly approach to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be verified for court admissibility. Any samples that presumptively test positive in Screening do require a subsequent confirmation.

When a sample is presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are withdrawn from hair at substantially lower concentrations compared to other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate process to perform.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if required. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection duration.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Provides historical data: It offers a pattern of drug usage across an interval, not only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug assessments generally cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Variables such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While commonly dubbed "hair follicle tests", the examination actually analyzes the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Superior Detection in New Providence, IA: Hair follicle tests offer greater detection accuracy compared to urine tests. They identify drug use over an extended timeline, providing a more reliable assessment.

Advantages Over Urine Tests: Hair testing outperforms traditional urine analysis in detecting long-term drug use, making it an invaluable tool for employers and professionals.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Period: Hair follicle tests in New Providence, IA, detect drug use over a broad timeframe, reaching up to 90 days. This offers employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance use history.

Long-Term Insight: The expanded detection window of hair testing surpasses other methods, ensuring comprehensive evaluations of substance patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure Testing Methods in New Providence, IA: Hair follicle tests greatly reduce the possibility of sample tampering, ensuring trustworthy and conclusive results for substance use detection.

Unquestionable Integrity: The observed nature of hair testing methods minimizes chances of adulteration, providing reliable data that supports accurate assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Testing Centers: With nationwide facilities, Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy access to services in New Providence, IA, providing hassle-free and convenient testing.

Nationwide Coverage: Our widespread locations simplify the process of obtaining necessary drug tests, offering effortless and prompt service access across the country.

Simple, Confidential Process

Streamlined Procedures: In New Providence, IA, our drug testing service offers a straightforward and discreet process, addressing privacy and usability concerns effectively.

Confidential Handling: From scheduling to results, our simple process ensures confidentiality and ease, reinforcing trust and simplicity for all clients.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing in New Providence, IA: Our testing services are affordable, offering attractive pricing options while delivering timely results, ensuring great value for businesses.

Quick Turnaround Times: With fast and effective services, our drug testing provides businesses with prompt results, enhancing operational efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Precise Results: In New Providence, IA, hair follicle drug tests deliver results quickly and accurately, confirming substance use with high precision. This method is ideal for timely assessments.

Reliable Assessments: Hair testing stands out for its ability to accurately identify substances, providing definitive insight into an individual's substance use history.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance: Utilizing hair follicle testing in New Providence, IA helps employers adhere to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal concerns and enhancing overall safety.

Peace of Mind for Employers: By employing hair testing, companies can maintain a secure and compliant work environment, fostering peace of mind in workplace management.

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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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