Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dexter, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has established itself as a vital method for detecting the usage of drugs and alcohol. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug consumption by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When sourced near the scalp, it can offer an approximate 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section approximately 200 hair strands thick (the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg, ideal for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. In the context of head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key phases in processing a laboratory drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning begins with the sample's initial integration into the laboratory system. It involves confirming the sample’s secure sealing and shipment, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. While Screening is cost-efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive result requires verification to be valid in legal proceedings. Presumptively positive Screening samples need further confirmation.

If positive results are presumed in Screening, more hair is curated from the original sample for Extraction. This process involves extracting drugs from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening quite challenging.

Confirmation of Screening positive results is undertaken using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. Presumptive positive samples are washed prior to confirmation when necessary. The entire laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Merits of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection window: Hair drug tests can trace drug usage for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter windows.
• Difficult to evade: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, ensuring higher result accuracy.
• Yields historical insight: This method shows a usage pattern over months, rather than recent consumption only.

Drawbacks:

• No recent use detection: It usually takes 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically costs more than alternative testing approaches.
• Outcome variability: Aspects like hair color and unique growth rates can influence metabolite concentration detection.

Note: Although sometimes called "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests with its superior detection accuracy in Dexter, OH. It offers an unparalleled analysis that minimizes the chances of oversight.

Unlike urine tests, hair analysis provides reliable substance detection, aiding in effective policy enforcement and ensuring workplace safety.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Dexter, OH, captures drug use patterns over extended durations, up to 90 days. It provides insights into long-term substance habits, unlike the limited window of urine tests.

This extensive detection capability offers employers a comprehensive understanding of a candidate's or employee's substance use history, boosting informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

With tamper-resistant measures, hair follicle tests in Dexter, OH, curb risks of sample adulteration, delivering reliable outcomes.

These tests' robust nature ensures credible results that withstand scrutiny, reassuring employers of their results' integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our expansive network of testing centers, including convenient spots in Dexter, OH, guarantees easy accessibility to services.

With nationwide presence, seamless and hassle-free testing is available just around the corner, addressing urgent or routine needs promptly.

Simple, Confidential Process

The procedure for hair follicle testing in Dexter, OH, is straightforward and confidential, respecting users' privacy.

From ordering to result delivery, the process is designed for simplicity, alleviating common privacy concerns and ensuring ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing coupled with fast turnaround times positions our hair follicle testing as the best value in Dexter, OH.

Offering economical testing solutions, businesses, regardless of size, benefit from our cost-effective structure without compromising on speed and accuracy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle test provides swift, precise outcomes, ensuring high accuracy in detecting substance use. Professional analysis guarantees minimal error rates, offering peace of mind to employers making crucial employment decisions.

Featuring an advanced testing methodology, hair tests in Dexter, OH, deliver fast and dependable results that help maintain workplaces free of substance misuse.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

By adopting hair follicle testing, employers in Dexter, OH, adhere to workplace drug-free policies, mitigating legal challenges.

Ensuring policy compliance through reliable testing results enhances workplace safety and security, offering employers peace of mind.

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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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