Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brimfield, OH

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and other drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. When taken from near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and conveniently transportable.

A 1.5-inch segment of hair, consisting of about 200 strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, will yield 100mg—the perfect sample size for initial testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen amounting to 150mg is suggested. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent mass of body hair can be collected. Reference to head hair exclusively denotes scalp hair. Body hair pertains to any other hair type (e.g., facial, armpit).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory's records. This stage ensures the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, allocates a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening performs an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. While Screening is an economical way to negate drug usage for most samples, a positive result must be verified to be legally permissible. Any samples testing as presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample appear presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations notably lesser than in other methodologies (like urine or saliva), making hair drug testing one of the most complex methods to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are washed before confirmation if needed. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair distinction and meets ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with more limited detection spans.
• Challenging to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is highly difficult, ensuring more reliable outcomes.
• Yields historical insights: It can illustrate a drug usage pattern over time, not confined to recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent deviance: It generally requires 5-7 days for drugs to become evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically costlier than alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Factors including hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the examination assesses the actual hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Brimfield, OH becomes evident when examining the detection capabilities. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair testing provides greater accuracy and reliability, covering a more extended period of substance history, offering employers a wider lens into an individual's past usage behaviors. This advantage makes it superior for long-term detection.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window for hair follicle testing in Brimfield, OH offers employers an expansive overview of substance use history. Covering a 90-day span, this method supplies a comprehensive picture of potential substance use, allowing for more informed employment decisions. Such extensive detection ensures a thorough understanding of employee habits over time.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Employing a Tamper-Resistant Testing Method, hair follicle tests in Brimfield, OH offer undeniable reliability. These tests minimize the possibility of sample adulteration and manipulation, providing unquestionable results. Such security measures ensure that the results stay accurate and trustworthy.
Substance Reliability is the key benefit here, ensuring authenticity in findings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations in Brimfield, OH make testing accessible and hassle-free. Our nationwide network simplifies the process with quick and easy access, providing peace of mind. Whether local or interstate, finding a testing site is straightforward with included facilities near you.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process for drug testing in Brimfield, OH conveys ease and privacy. The streamlined ordering, testing, and result-receiving steps ensure confidentiality at every stage, addressing privacy concerns while simplifying user experience. These measures offer clients reassurance.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Brimfield, OH serve as key features of our service offerings. Competitive pricing structures coupled with quick result times create excellent value for businesses of varying sizes, providing peace of mind and financial assurance.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Brimfield, OH benefits from the swift and precise hair follicle drug testing. Known for its high accuracy, this method guarantees superior results when detecting substance use over longer periods, making it a reliable choice for employers and legal entities.
Fast and Accurate, hair testing serves as a powerful tool for exploring an individual’s substance use history.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Brimfield, OH come naturally with hair follicle testing, aiding in maintaining drug-free workplaces. This method aligns with safety policies, minimizing legal risks while enhancing workplace security. Hair testing is a proactive approach to safeguarding a compliant work 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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