Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Collins, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as a vital method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair offers nearly a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient to ship.

A 1.5-inch sample of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields approximately 100mg of hair, which is the ideal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG testing, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. In reference to head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test involves four main phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial introduction of a sample into the laboratory’s system. This process includes verifying that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective means to rule out drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be verified for court admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive result in the Screening stage, additional hair is retrieved from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are washed before confirmation as needed. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Hard to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, ensuring more precise results.
• Provides historical data: The test can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent use detection: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-usage.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically costs more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why choose hair follicle testing over urine testing? In Collins, OH, it's all about superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests offer a broader detection window and are resistant to tampering. Employers find this method invaluable for screening, as it ensures a zero-tolerance policy is enforced without the risk of false negatives, providing peace of mind with definitive results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Collins, OH, offers a detection window unparalleled by other methods. With the ability to identify drug use up to 90 days prior, employers gain insight into potential risk factors presented by applicants or employees. This extended timeframe provides a comprehensive view of substance history, empowering smarter hiring and management decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Reducing the risk of sample tampering is crucial, and Collins, OH, trusts hair follicle testing to deliver. This method is significantly tamper-resistant, offering results that can be trusted implicitly. Unlike other tests prone to adulteration or substitution, hair testing provides a clear, accurate picture of an individual's substance use, making it a superior choice for uncompromised results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience in drug testing is paramount, and Collins, OH benefits from nationwide testing centers. Offering quick and hassle-free access, these centers ensure that testing services are readily available. The local presence makes it easy for businesses and individuals to access reliable hair follicle testing, providing an efficient solution to a critical need.

Simple, Confidential Process

Hair follicle testing in Collins, OH, is a straightforward, confidential process. From ordering the test to receiving results, the process is designed to protect privacy and ensure ease of use. Individuals and businesses alike can trust that their sensitive information remains secure, offering peace of mind alongside fast, accurate results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordability meets excellence in hair follicle testing services in Collins, OH. Our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times are tailored to provide exceptional value. Catering to companies of all sizes, we ensure that premium testing services are accessible to everyone, delivering results without delay and without breaking the bank.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Collins, OH, hair follicle testing is the epitome of accuracy and speed. Providing fast, reliable results, this method stands out in detecting substance use. Hair tests ensure high precision, detecting even the smallest traces of drugs with accuracy unmatched by traditional methods. With its exceptional reliability, hair testing offers the confidence needed for critical decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Collins, OH, gain compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. Adopting this method ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks. Hair testing enhances safety, promoting a secure work environment. Its unparalleled detection capabilities support robust policy enforcement, offering clear benefits for businesses striving to maintain high standards.

Drug Testing Near Collins, OH

Kipton, OH

Camden, OH

Beulah Beach, OH

Mitiwanga, OH

Clarksfield, OH

Olena, OH

Norwalk, OH

Milan, OH

Shinrock, OH

Wakeman, OH

Berlin, OH

Berlin Heights, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews