Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lewistown, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective means for detecting substance and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug involvement by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the evolving hair strand. When retrieved from near the scalp, hair can showcase an approximate 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to acquire, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for dispatch.

A section of 1.5 inches containing roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for assessment and validation. For EtG, supplementary tests, and those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is missing, a similar quantity of body hair may be collected. When referring to head hair, it specifically means scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary four steps in the laboratory handling of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory’s framework. This step includes confirming that the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs an initial assessment for drug utilization. Although Screening serves as an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be valid in legal scenarios. Any samples provisionally positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample is provisionally positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and set for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for hair drug screening being the most challenging technique to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples provisionally positive are cleansed before confirmation if required. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which exhibit a shorter detection window.
• Tamper-proof: It's exceedingly challenging to tamper with a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insights: It provides a usage pattern over time, not only recent usage.

Limitations:

• No recent use detection: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more compared to alternative drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite often being labeled as "hair follicle tests", the actual test targets the hair strand and not the hair follicle embedded beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Lewistown, OH, the superiority of hair follicle testing over urine testing is evident. The extended detection period of hair tests, often reaching up to 90 days, offers a significant advantage compared to the shorter window of urine tests.
Hair tests deliver enhanced detection accuracy, making it a preferred option for accuracy-driven policies.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Lewistown, OH, provides an extended detection window, capturing drug use history up to 90 days prior. This offers employers an encompassing view of an individual’s substance use background, more comprehensive than urine tests.
With such a prolonged detection period, hair testing stands as a detailed record of drug interaction.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Lewistown, OH, hair follicle tests offer a robust defense against sample tampering. Their methodology makes it significantly difficult to alter results, providing reliable and factual data.
This tamper-resistant quality assures parties of test integrity, reinforcing confidence in the outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient facilities spread across Lewistown, OH, and a vast national network, accessing hair follicle testing is straightforward. Accredited Drug Testing facilitates fast and accessible testing service locations, reducing barriers to obtain essential tests.
The ease of access ensures participation without cumbersome procedures.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing process in Lewistown, OH, is both simple and confidential. From test ordering to obtaining results, all steps prioritize user privacy and ease of use. This streamlined approach addresses concerns over privacy, offering a user-friendly engagement.
Clients experience a seamless process that maintains confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing provides affordable hair follicle testing options in Lewistown, OH, ensuring competitive pricing. Coupled with quick turnaround times, the value offered is exceptional, serving companies of varying sizes.
This combination encourages economic efficiency without sacrificing quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug tests in Lewistown, OH, are renowned for their precision and rapidity. The method effectively identifies substance use with a remarkable degree of accuracy, ensuring that results are both reliable and trustworthy.
This comprehensive approach makes it a preferred choice for employers and organizations seeking clear and dependable outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Lewistown, OH, utilizing hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. It mitigates legal risks and fosters a safer working environment by aligning with compliance requirements.
Testing aids in enforcing a strict no-drug policy with certainty.

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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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