Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Soldier, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a historical record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the expanding hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection window of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample of roughly 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp will yield 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 weighing the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When referring to head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four core stages in the lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This process includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not given by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is the initial quick assessment for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is an economical method to rule out drug usage in most samples, a positive screen needs validation to be accepted in court. Any presumptively positive samples in Screening require an additional confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, more hair is taken from the initial specimen for Extraction. Here, drugs are separated from hair at a lower concentration than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation if needed. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests with a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to cheat: Cheating on a hair drug test is quite difficult, leading to more accurate results.
• Offers historical data: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: It takes approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual variations in hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually involves the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Soldier, IA, hair follicle testing is superior to urine tests due to its higher detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests provide a more comprehensive overview, capturing drug use that traditional urine tests might miss due to their shorter detection windows.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Soldier, IA, provides a much longer detection window, monitoring drug use for up to 90 days. Employers gain invaluable insight into the past substance use of employees, making informed decisions regarding hiring and ongoing workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Soldier, IA, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing offers peace of mind to organizations requiring drug testing. The method significantly reduces the risk of adulterated samples, ensuring that results remain reliable and unchallenged.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Soldier, IA, benefits from the convenience of nationwide and local testing centers, ensuring that obtaining a hair follicle test is quick and hassle-free. Our widespread locations simplify access to testing services for individuals and businesses alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The confidential and straightforward process of hair follicle testing in Soldier, IA, addresses privacy concerns. From ordering to receiving results, the process is designed to be user-friendly, maintaining the privacy and ease individuals expect.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing structures and swift turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Soldier, IA, delivers excellent value. Companies of all sizes benefit from the affordability and speed of our testing services, ensuring peace of mind and efficient operations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The reliability of hair follicle testing in Soldier, IA, cannot be overstated. These tests deliver precise results quickly, ensuring substance use is accurately identified. The speed at which hair samples are processed gives individuals and organizations the confidence needed to make informed decisions efficiently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Soldier, IA, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies, offering peace of mind to employers. It helps reduce legal risks and enhances the safety of the work environment, supporting a safe and productive atmosphere.

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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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