Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Derby, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair provides a timeline of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, adulteration is relatively challenging, and transportation is simple.

A section of hair measuring 1.5 inches with roughly 200 strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) at the scalp level will yield 100mg of hair, which is the ideal sample size for both initial screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or testing above ten panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair only, while body hair includes all other types like facial, axillary, and others.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results consists of four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the sample's initial handling within the laboratory’s system. This process includes confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and shipped, allocating a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and performing any further data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for substance use. Although Screening is an economical method for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than those found using other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most complex methodologies.

Each positive screen must be confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positives are washed ahead of confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is inspected under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests have the ability to monitor drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: Due to its nature, a hair drug test is challenging to cheat, providing more reliable results.
• Tracks usage over time: It can offer insights into patterns of drug use over an extended period, not just recent usage.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent use: A hair drug test takes about 5-7 days to detect the presence of drugs in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally costs more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Differences such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair strand itself, not the follicle located beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Derby, OH can be attributed to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair follicle tests present a longer detection window and provide comprehensive insights into an individual's drug history. This makes it the favored choice for employers looking to enforce a safe and drug-free workplace environment.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window highlights how hair follicle testing in Derby, OH, offers a considerable advantage as it detects drug use over an extended period of up to 90 days. This broad investigation timeframe provides employers with a comprehensive understanding of a candidate or employee’s substance use, allowing for better-informed staffing decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method: Hair follicle tests in Derby, OH, greatly minimize the risk of sample adulteration. This feature ensures that results remain reliable and unquestionable, providing employers with the confidence that the findings are genuine and unaltered, which is crucial for maintaining strict no-drug-use policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations combined with local sites in Derby, OH, offer unparalleled convenience. Accredited Drug Testing provides swift, straightforward, and stress-free access to testing services, ensuring individuals and employers can easily meet their testing needs without the hassle.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process: The hair follicle drug testing in Derby, OH, involves an uncomplicated and confidential procedure for test ordering, collection, and result delivery. This approach addresses privacy concerns effectively, ensuring that users find the process both discreet and user-friendly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround: Our competitive pricing structures paired with expedient turnaround times provide excellent value. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that companies in Derby, OH, of every size can benefit from efficient services delivered swiftly, thus maintaining peace of mind while managing drug testing requirements.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results are a hallmark of hair follicle drug tests in Derby, OH. These tests assure precision and promptness, detecting substance use with high accuracy. This reliability offers invaluable insights into an individual’s drug use history, ensuring employers can make informed decisions based on the thoroughness of the results obtained.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers: Utilizing hair follicle testing in Derby, OH, ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies and reduces legal liabilities. This method enhances overall workplace safety by fostering a drug-free work environment, thus providing employers with peace of mind and assurance of compliance.

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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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