Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pleasantville, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol abuse. Hair provides a long-term record of alcohol and other drug usage by retaining biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When collected close to the scalp, it can offer a detection span of up to around 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of about 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, it is solely in reference to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This encompasses verifying that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary quick analysis for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in a legal context. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening need secondary confirmation.

If a sample is presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a substantially lower concentration than within other approaches (ex. urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Difficult to manipulate: It is extremely challenging to cheat a hair drug test, ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers historical insight: It can provide a pattern of drug use over a time span, beyond just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be more costly compared to other drug testing methods.
• Variability in results: Factors including hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Pleasantville, IA, the superiority of hair follicle testing over traditional urine testing is increasingly evident. Hair tests exhibit enhanced detection accuracy and reliability, providing a robust barrier against drug misuse and policy violations. While urine tests are limited in their detection window, hair analysis unveils a broader history of substance use, granting employers and entities a deeper insight into individuals' behaviors.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Pleasantville, IA proves invaluable for employers. Unlike urine tests, hair sampling can reveal substance use spanning up to 90 days. This long-term monitoring capability offers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance habits, fostering informed hiring or retention decisions and supporting efforts to maintain a drug-free work environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The integrity of hair follicle testing in Pleasantville, IA is unmatched, providing a tamper-resistant method that assures employers of reliable results. The difficulty involved in adulterating hair samples results in highly dependable outcomes, reducing the risk of falsification and guaranteeing trustworthy detection of drugs, which is essential in environments where safety and honesty are non-negotiable.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing boasts numerous nationwide and local testing centers in Pleasantville, IA, ensuring convenient access to superior testing services. This network alleviates the stress of locating a nearby facility, allowing quicker, straightforward interactions for individuals needing testing. With centers ubiquitously available, accessibility is never a hurdle in obtaining necessary drug testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Pleasantville, IA, Accredited Drug Testing prioritizes a simple and confidential approach to hair follicle testing. Our process of ordering, sample collection, and result delivery is designed to ensure privacy and ease for users. Understandably, concerns about confidentiality in testing are significant, and we rigorously manage our procedures to uphold trust and discretion throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Choosing hair follicle testing in Pleasantville, IA with Accredited Drug Testing guarantees competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, enhancing value for employers of all sizes. Our service not only promises cost-effectiveness but also ensures rapid results, empowering companies to make integral decisions swiftly while keeping financial considerations in check.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Pleasantville, IA provides fast, accurate, and reliable results crucial for making informed decisions. The methodology ensures accurate detection of substance use, allowing for timely and effective intervention. Speedy processing of samples guarantees that essential data is delivered promptly, an essential factor for employers needing swift evaluations of their workforce's compliance with drug policies.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Pleasantville, IA, leveraging hair follicle testing assists significantly in sustaining a drug-free workplace. This testing method supports compliance with workplace regulations, facilitating adherence to safety protocols and minimizing legal liabilities. Consequently, employers gain peace of mind knowing their operations align with industry standards and are less exposed to potential infractions.

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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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