Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Roland, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a comprehensive timeline of substance use by sequestering biomarkers within the hairs’ growing fibers. When harvested near the scalp, the hair can reveal alcohol and drug usage for approximately up to three months. Collection is straightforward, modification is challenging, and transport is easy.

A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred quantity for screening and verification. For EtG, additional elements, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We advocate for the specimen to be weighed using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test outcomes comprises four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary integration of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any remaining data inputs absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for substance misuse. While this is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug presence in most samples, a positive screen requires validation to be permissible in legal proceedings. Any screenings suggesting positivity necessitate further corroboration.

If a sample shows positive indications during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. This stage involves isolating drugs from the hair at a significantly lower concentration than alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmation of any positive screen is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo a wash before confirmation, as required. The comprehensive laboratory 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:

• Extended detection period: Drug consumption can be identified up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Challenging to falsify: Hair drug tests are notably hard to invalidate, enhancing accuracy of results.
• Historical insight: They provide a timeline of drug use, not just immediate usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to recognize recent consumption: Drugs are generally detectable in hair after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result fluctuations: Elements like hair color and diverse individual hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: While often named "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Roland, IA

Hair follicle testing is preferred over traditional urine tests due to its superior detection range.
While urine tests detect recent use, hair testing unveils a broader history of substance use, typically up to 90 days.

This method ensures impeccable accuracy and limits cheating, providing unrivaled reliability for employers.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Roland, IA

Through hair follicle analysis, substance detection spans up to 90 days, giving employers a detailed understanding of long-term drug use.
The ability to trace back months offers a comprehensive view of an individual’s history, making it invaluable for employer assessments.

This feature surpasses short-term methods, highlighting hair tests as the gold standard in prolonged detection.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Roland, IA

Utilizing hair follicle tests drastically reduces the potential for sample tampering.
These tests are nearly uncheatable, assuring authentic and trustworthy outcomes.

Employers benefit from decisive results, confidently implementing drug policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Roland, IA

Our expansive network of testing centers ensures hassle-free access to hair follicle screenings across the nation.
Locally in Roland, IA, our facilities provide convenience and efficiency.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Roland, IA

Our hair testing process is straightforward, maintaining confidentiality from order to result.

The entire procedure is designed for simplicity, allowing easy access to testing and results while respecting the need for discretion and protection of personal data.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Roland, IA

Offering competitive pricing, our hair tests deliver superb value without sacrificing quality.
The swift turnaround times ensure results when needed, benefiting employers of all sizes.

These cost-effective solutions provide peace of mind and maintained standards,

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Roland, IA

Our hair follicle drug tests provide remarkably accurate and efficient results, assuring pinpoint precision in detecting substance usage.
With quick processing times, hair testing delivers steady results, ensuring reliability in every screening.

The rigorous process enhances the dependability of hair tests, making them an indispensable choice for employers in need of swift and precise insights into potential substance use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Roland, IA

Employers utilizing hair follicle tests gain assurance in maintaining drug-free workplaces.

Such comprehensive testing fosters a safe work environment, ensuring policy adherence and offering employers peace of mind.

Drug Testing Near Roland, IA

Ames, IA

Ellsworth, IA

Radcliffe, IA

Nevada, IA

Zearing, IA

Fernald, IA

Gilbert, IA

Garden City, IA

Randall, IA

McCallsburg, IA

Story City, IA

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews