Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Burlington, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments are increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug activity by embedding biomarkers within the threads of the hair as it grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair offers roughly a three-month examination timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, moderately resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or more than 10-panel evaluations, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. By head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair pertains to all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory's system. This step verifies proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes additional data entry if not included in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-efficient means to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Any samples indicating a presumptive positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptively positive result in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex technique to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug use up to 90 days later, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection period.
• Challenge to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, leading to more reliable results.
• Offers historical insights: It reveals a pattern of drug consumption over time, beyond just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent detection: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expenses: Hair drug assessments generally cost more than alternative testing methods.
• Outcome variations: Elements like hair color and personal discrepancies in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Burlington, OH
Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages. In Burlington, OH, its superior detection capabilities and extended reliability make it a preferred choice. Employers and professionals opt for hair testing due to its accuracy over a prolonged period, which urine tests can't match, thereby ensuring a more trustworthy overview of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Burlington, OH
Hair follicle drug tests provide a longer window for detecting drug use, up to 90 days. This feature offers employers in Burlington, OH a thorough understanding of an employee's or applicant's substance history, rather than brief glimpses offered by alternative methods. The extended period for detection ensures that decisions are informed by comprehensive data.
Employers value this holistic insight.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Burlington, OH
Hair follicle testing minimizes the risk of sample tampering. Unlike other methods, this process is resistant to adulteration, providing results that can be trusted in Burlington, OH. The collection process ensures integrity, making it a dependable solution for drug testing. This reliability is vital for institutions needing unquestionable results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Burlington, OH
Access to testing centers nationwide, including Burlington, OH, guarantees convenience. This network allows for quick and stress-free drug testing. Whether you require services locally or in another city, our centers ensure services are within easy reach, providing a user-friendly experience that saves time and effort.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Burlington, OH
The process for ordering, conducting, and receiving hair follicle test results is simple and confidential. In Burlington, OH, clients appreciate the privacy and ease of use offered. The system is designed to handle sensitive information with care, ensuring that all interactions are discreet and straightforward, which increases client confidence.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Burlington, OH
Competitive pricing and quick turnaround times make hair follicle drug testing an economical choice in Burlington, OH. Our services provide excellent value for businesses of all sizes, offering an affordable means to ensure workplace safety while guaranteeing rapid result delivery, which supports efficient operational oversight.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Burlington, OH
Hair follicle drug testing provides rapid and reliable results. In Burlington, OH, this method is trusted for its ability to quickly detect substance use with high precision. The quick process ensures that companies and individuals receive the necessary information without delay, enhancing decision-making processes.
Accuracy in detection, combined with swift execution, makes it an excellent choice.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Burlington, OH
Employing hair follicle drug testing in Burlington, OH helps ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method keeps legal risks to a minimum and enhances safety in the workplace. By choosing such reliable testing, employers can maintain a safer environment and enjoy peace of mind knowing they meet necessary regulations.

Drug Testing Near Burlington, OH

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Hanging Rock, OH

Athalia, OH

Aid, OH

Ironton, OH

Kitts Hill, OH

Coal Grove, OH

Proctorville, OH

Brentwood, OH

Chesapeake, OH

South Point, OH

North Lawrence, OH

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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