Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Strahan, IA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly seen as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record of alcohol and drug use because it embeds biomarkers within the strands as hair grows. By sampling hair closest to the scalp, it can reveal use within an approximate three-month timeframe for alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, making tampering challenging, and the samples are easy to transport.

An ideal test sample consists of a 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hair strands (around the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, totaling 100mg. This amount is optimal for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised, best measured on a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be absent, an equivalent quantity of body hair is acceptable. When discussing head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair types, including facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab's framework. This process involves confirming that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening provides a financially efficient method to negate drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to hold up in court. Samples with presumptive positive results at the Screening stage necessitate follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample yield a presumptive positive during Screening, further hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. In this step, drugs are isolated from the hair at much lower concentrations than what is observed in other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening the most complex methodology.

The Confirmation of any positive screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Before Confirmation, all samples with presumptive positives are washed if necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards of accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection duration: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days back, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection window.
• Hard to manipulate: Tampering with a hair drug test is very challenging, enhancing accuracy.
• Tracks historical use: Provides patterns of drug use over time, rather than just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Delayed detection: Detection of drugs in hair requires around 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing options.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", these tests actually analyze the hair strand and not the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair vs. Urine Testing in Strahan, IA: The hair follicle test is renowned for its superior detection compared to urine tests. Not only does it provide a broader detection window, but it is also far more difficult to evade. This enhanced reliability makes it a first choice for companies seeking thorough drug screenings.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Capability: The ability to trace drug use for up to 90 days via hair testing allows employers in Strahan, IA to gain a detailed understanding of one's substance use history. This comprehensive insight aids in evaluating an individual's long-term behaviors and habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure & Tamper-Resistant: Hair follicle tests in Strahan, IA are known for resisting sample adulteration. This rigorous method ensures authenticity, leaving no room for doubt regarding the test results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Testing Locations: Our widespread network, including facilities in Strahan, IA, offers unparalleled convenience. Whether you're local or traveling, our testing centers ensure hassle-free access to drug testing services nationwide.

Simple, Confidential Process

Confidential & Easy Process: Ordering and completing a hair follicle test in Strahan, IA is straightforward. The entire procedure is confidential, ensuring privacy and ease at every step, from scheduling to receiving the results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective & Quick: In Strahan, IA, our competitive pricing, combined with rapid turnaround times, ensures that businesses of all sizes receive excellent value without compromising quality or speed of service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast & Reliable Testing Solutions: In Strahan, IA, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision. They quickly detect substance use, providing accurate and trustworthy results. This speed and reliability are crucial for making informed decisions promptly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance & Assurance: Utilizing hair testing methods, employers in Strahan, IA can effectively uphold drug-free work environments. This not only mitigates legal risks but also boosts workplace safety, providing peace of mind.

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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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