Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Runnells, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method to identify drug and alcohol usage. Hair acts as a long-term indicator of alcohol and drugs by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When taken from near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to roughly three months for drugs and alcohol. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat hard to tamper with, and easy to mail.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 strands of hair (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimum amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It is advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair might be gathered. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair pertains to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result includes the four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial phase of integrating a sample into a lab's system. This step involves verifying the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any extra data entry not already provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening comprises an initial rapid screening for drugs of abuse. While Screening serves as a cost-effective means to rule out drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be permissible in a legal setting. Any samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample shows presumptive positivity during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this stage, the extraction of drugs from hair occurs at notably lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples testing presumptively positive are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection window: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a reduced detection duration.
• Resistance to manipulation: Manipulating a hair drug test is remarkably challenging, which enhances result accuracy.
• Offers historical data: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time, beyond recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Variables like hair color and personal differences in hair growth may influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Runnells, IA, hair follicle tests surpass traditional urine tests with superior accuracy and reliability. These tests cover a broader detection window, identifying drug use over several months, while urine tests focus on short-term detection.

The lengthy detection timeline of hair testing captures extended drug histories that urine tests might overlook. Employers and officials benefit from the reliability of hair follicle tests in maintaining drug-free environments.

Extended Detection Window

In Runnells, IA, hair follicle testing offers a distinct extended detection window of up to 90 days, providing a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history. This is considerably longer than the timeframe covered by urine tests, which detect recent usage.

Employers gain an expansive understanding of an applicant or employee's drug use, assisting in informed decision-making processes. This broad detection capability ensures workplace safety and regulatory compliance.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests conducted in Runnells, IA, are notably tamper-resistant, minimizing the risk of sample alteration. Their design bolsters reliability, producing results that can be trusted for accuracy and legitimacy.

The collection process itself acts as a safeguard, making it difficult for individuals to alter or fake a sample. This ensures that the outcomes of the tests are beyond reproach, adding security to employment and legal screenings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

We provide convenient nationwide testing centers, along with local services in Runnells, IA, to ensure accessible and efficient drug testing solutions. This widespread availability makes the process hassle-free for individuals and organizations alike.

Accessing reliable testing services has never been easier. Our strategically placed testing sites make substance screening a smooth, streamlined experience, catering to local and national needs efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our hair follicle testing process in Runnells, IA, is simple and confidential, ensuring ease and privacy for participants from order through to result acquisition. This straightforward approach alleviates common privacy concerns.

Efficiency and discretion are top priorities in our testing protocol, providing peace of mind and confidence in our services. Secure and prompt result handling ensures trust for clients seeking reliable drug testing solutions.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our drug testing services in Runnells, IA, offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, delivering exceptional value to businesses of all sizes. We strive to combine cost-effectiveness with speed, ensuring budget-friendly yet thorough testing.

Competitive pricing, coupled with swift delivery of results, allows companies to operate without financial strain, while maintaining effective drug-free policies. Our focus on cost and speed ensures peace of mind for employers.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Runnells, IA, stand out for their speed and accuracy, providing swift and reliable results. These tests efficiently identify substance use with a high level of precision, ensuring trustworthiness and timely detection for individuals and organizations.

Employers rely on the fast turnaround and high accuracy of hair assessments to maintain safe work environments. The ability to quickly verify substance use history is invaluable when making critical hiring and workplace decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Runnells, IA, ensures compliance with workplace drug policies, providing peace of mind and reducing potential legal challenges. It helps maintain a safer work environment by reliably detecting prolonged drug use.

Employers benefit from reduced legal exposure, knowing that their screening methods hold up against scrutiny. Implementing this form of testing supports a strategy aimed at maintaining the safety and integrity of the workplace.

Drug Testing Near Runnells, IA

Valeria, IA

Indianola, IA

Des Moines, IA

Berwick, IA

Bondurant, IA

Colfax, IA

Ackworth, IA

Mitchellville, IA

Altoona, IA

Sandyville, IA

Pleasant Hill, IA

Pleasantville, IA

Prairie City, IA

Carlisle, IA

Swan, 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