Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Elgin, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair holds a historical trace of alcohol and drugs by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of hair strands as they grow. When taken near the scalp, hair tests provide a detection period of up to three months for both alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to ship.

A specimen consisting of a 1.5-inch section taken closest to the scalp, with about 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil), equates to approximately 100mg, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For tests such as EtG, add-ons, or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is preferred. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is advisable. In cases where scalp hair can't be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair indicates all other hair types (such as facial and axillary).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test result involves four principal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially entered into a laboratory’s system. This step includes checking that the sample has been properly sealed and shipped, generating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any unprovided data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary step that quickly checks for drugs. While it's a budget-friendly approach to screen out drug use in most samples, a positive result at this stage must be verified for court submission. Positive results found during Screening require a secondary verification.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample for the Extraction process. At this point, drugs are extracted from hair at far lower concentrations than other methods such as urine or oral fluid, highlighting why hair drug screening is notably challenging.

Positive screening results are confirmed with methodologies like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation as needed. An extensive review of the entire laboratory process, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, is conducted according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and the accreditation requirements of ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days prior, in comparison to urine tests offering a shorter timeframe.
• Low chance of tampering: It's notably hard to manipulate a hair drug test, increasing reliability.
• Chronology of data: Provides an overview of drug use patterns over time, beyond recent usage.

Limitations:

• Recent use indetectable: Approximately 5-7 days are needed before drugs are observable in hair.
• Expense: Hair testing generally incurs more costs than other drug testing approaches.
• Results variability: Aspects like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: The test commonly called "hair follicle tests" actually analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle itself under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Elgin, OH
Hair follicle testing offers several advantages over urine tests, primarily due to its significantly longer detection window and minimal risk of tampering. These tests provide superior detection accuracy and reliability, allowing for a more comprehensive overview of an individual's substance use compared to more conventional urine testing.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Elgin, OH
Hair follicle tests provide a broader detection window, tracking drug use for up to 90 days. This extensive span offers employers an in-depth understanding of an individual's substance habits, allowing for well-informed employment or disciplinary decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Elgin, OH
One of the key benefits of hair follicle drug testing is its tamper-resistant nature. This method significantly minimizes the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring that results remain trustworthy and undeniable, a key advantage over other testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Elgin, OH
Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy access with its numerous centers nationwide. This convenience means that no matter where you are located, especially in Elgin, OH, you can access quick and efficient testing services without the hassle.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Elgin, OH
The simplicity and confidentiality of the testing process are key to our service. From ordering a test to receiving results, the process is straightforward and respectful of privacy, ensuring users can access their results with confidence and ease.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Elgin, OH
Offering competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, our services provide exceptional value for businesses of all sizes. This ensures you receive dependable results within a timeframe conducive to your business needs, without breaking the bank.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Elgin, OH
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug testing make it a preferred choice in Elgin. Hair tests are renowned for their high accuracy, providing dependable results swiftly. This makes them an ideal solution when quick and precise detection of substance use is necessary, surpassing many traditional methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Elgin, OH
Employers benefit from using hair follicle testing by ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies. These tests reduce legal risks, enhance workplace safety, and provide peace of mind by delivering accurate and reliable detection of drug use among employees.

Drug Testing Near Elgin, OH

Wren, OH

Ottoville, OH

Fort Jennings, OH

St. Marys, OH

Elida, OH

Celina, OH

Buckland, OH

Van Wert, OH

Delphos, OH

Neptune, OH

Rockford, OH

Middle Point, OH

Spencerville, OH

Mendon, OH

Venedocia, 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