Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Greentown, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair tests have become recognized as an effective means of identifying alcohol and drug use. By capturing biomarkers within the strands, hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug consumption. When taken near the scalp, it's possible to detect substances for nearly 90 days. Hair is straightforward to obtain, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches from about 200 strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg—the perfect sample size for initial tests and verification. When including EtG, extra tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, we specify scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test lab process includes four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning starts with integrating a sample into the lab's system. This step checks if the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and enters any missing information not provided by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary examination for substance abuse. While it's a cost-effective method to dismiss drug presence in most samples, a positive finding needs confirmation to stand in court. Any samples flagged as potentially positive during Screening require further confirmation.

For samples indicated as potentially positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening one of the hardest methods to perform.

Confirmed positive screening results undergo verification via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are pre-washed if needed before confirmation. The process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use over 90 days, unlike urine tests, which offer a shorter detection span.
• Hard to deceive: Manipulating a hair drug test is notably challenging, leading to more reliable outcomes.
• Shows historical patterns: A hair test can reveal a timeline of drug use, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is often more costly than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Greentown, OH, hair follicle testing outshines urine tests with its tangible benefits. Superior detection and extended reliability mark its advantages.

Unlike urine tests, hair testing offers enhanced accuracy over lengthy periods, making it nearly impossible for individuals to bypass detection.

Extended Detection Window

Offering a detection window that spans up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Greentown, OH, provides employers a comprehensive insight into an individual's drug usage history.

This test method allows companies to gain expanded awareness of applicants or employees, ensuring workplace safety through significant data on drug consumption over several months.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Greentown, OH, are highly resistant to tampering, significantly reducing the risk of adulterated samples. Reliable and unquestionable results are nearly guaranteed.

This secure and trustworthy method leaves little room for manipulation, offering peace of mind with the assurance of genuine results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers nationwide and local convenience in Greentown, OH, with its extensive network of centers facilitating effortless access to services.

Our hassle-free locations ensure that testing is simple, quick and easily accessible, making compliance straightforward and efficient.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Greentown, OH, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy concerns effectively. Ease of use is integral to our service.

From ordering to result reception, the process is designed for simplicity and discretion, ensuring client privacy and satisfaction with our services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and fast turnaround times make hair follicle testing in Greentown, OH, a cost-effective option. Competitive pricing ensures excellent value.

Our services offer not only great prices but also peace of mind to businesses of all sizes, providing efficient and economic solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Greentown, OH offer unmatched accuracy and speed for detecting substance use. The precision and reliability of these tests ensure swift results, making them a preferred choice.

With advanced methods, these tests can quickly identify a wide range of substances, providing fast, reliable outcomes. This makes hair tests an excellent option for those seeking timely and accurate drug detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Greentown, OH, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies is achievable through hair follicle testing. Reducing legal risks, this method enhances workplace safety.

Employers can achieve peace of mind knowing they are adhering to rigorous standards and fostering a safe, compliant work environment.

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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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