Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ellsinore, MO

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a formidable instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can provide an extended record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When gathered near the scalp, hair may offer up to a roughly three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Collection of hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches of approximately 200 hair strands (around the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for testing and validation. For EtG tests, additional screenings, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advocated. It is advisable to weigh the hair using a jeweler’s scale. In instances where scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. References to head hair exclusively pertain to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial processing phase where a sample is integrated into a laboratory’s system. This phase includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and recording any additional information not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening constitutes an initial quick assessment for drug abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screening necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples identified as presumptively positive during Screening demand a secondary verification.

Should a sample result in a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are removed from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is considered the most challenging methodology.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS is used to verify any positive screening results. Any samples identified as presumptively positive undergo cleaning before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory process spanning Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to falsify: Hair drug test results are hard to manipulate, increasing accuracy.
• Yields historical insight: It can reveal a timeline of substance use, not only recent activity.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent use detection: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs relative to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the assessment targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Ellsinore, MO stands out compared to urine tests due to its superior detection capabilities and reliability. While traditional urine tests have their place, hair tests offer a more comprehensive overview of an individual's substance use over time, making it a preferred choice for many employers and agencies.

Extended Detection Window

One of the key benefits of hair follicle testing in Ellsinore, MO is its extended detection window. Unlike other methods, hair tests can identify drug use up to 90 days prior, providing employers with a thorough picture of an individual's substance history. This long-term view is invaluable for making better-informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Ellsinore, MO offer a tamper-resistant testing method that significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration. By leveraging this robust approach, employers can be assured of trustworthy and definitive results, elevating the test's reliability above other methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Ellsinore, MO, our nationwide network of testing centers brings convenience to accessing hair follicle tests. This vast availability means that individuals and businesses can enjoy seamless and hassle-free testing services without the need to travel far, ensuring that drug testing is accessible wherever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Ellsinore, MO is designed to be straightforward and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step respects privacy concerns, ensuring users can easily and securely manage their testing needs without feeling inconvenienced or exposed.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, Accredited Drug Testing in Ellsinore, MO offers excellent value to companies of various sizes. This affordability, coupled with prompt results, brings peace of mind and budgeting ease, ensuring effective drug testing solutions without excessive costs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and efficiency of hair follicle drug testing are prominent in Ellsinore, MO. These tests are known for their high accuracy in detecting substance use, providing results that are both fast and reliable. This ensures that individuals or employers can receive trustworthy information quickly, aiding in timely decision-making and planning.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Ellsinore, MO find hair follicle testing to be a great tool for maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This not only minimizes legal risks but also improves safety and peace of mind by ensuring that employees adhere to set guidelines, ultimately creating a more secure working environment.

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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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