Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Malaga, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as a potent means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair traps biomarkers within its fibers, offering an extended historical record of substance use. When collected near the scalp, it can indicate alcohol and drug use for up to a three-month period. Hair is easy to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches of about 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For tests such as EtG additions, or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The main four steps involved in laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of a sample's entry into a lab's system. This process verifies the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional information entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary check for substance abuse. Although Screening is economical for ruling out drug use in most samples, any positive finding must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Presumed positive results in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

In cases of presumptive positives during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid, underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of positive screening results is performed using techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation when needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection window: Hair drug analyses identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Difficulty in deception: Hair drug analyses are challenging to manipulate, thus enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Reveals historical usage: It showcases drug use patterns over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• No recent usage detection: Drugs become detectable in hair only after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur higher costs compared to other testing methods.
• Results variation: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Malaga, OH, the former stands out due to its superior accuracy and reliability. Hair testing can detect a much longer history of substance use.

The benefit of a hair test over a urine test is its ability to uncover drug use over a period of up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection window.

Moreover, hair follicle tests offer more reliable results, making them nearly impossible to cheat, providing a secure solution for employers seeking accurate drug screening.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Malaga, OH, offers a significant advantage with its extended detection window, identifying drug use for up to 90 days.

This increased timeframe allows employers to gain a comprehensive insight into an individual’s substance use history, aiding in reliable evaluation.

Thanks to its long detection window, hair follicle testing provides an unparalleled assessment of an applicant or employee's past drug usage.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Malaga, OH, hair follicle tests are favored for their tamper-resistant nature, significantly reducing the risk of sample adulteration.

Unlike urine tests, hair tests discourage tampering due to their difficult-to-manipulate sample collection, ensuring reliable outcomes.

The unquestionable integrity of hair follicle tests provides confidence in the results, securing accurate drug testing practices.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient access to its services in Malaga, OH, supported by a network of nationwide testing centers.

Our clients benefit from quick and hassle-free testing experiences, facilitated by our accessible local and national sites.

Ease of access and the availability of numerous centre locations ensure prompt drug testing services whenever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of getting a hair follicle test in Malaga, OH, is simple and confidential, safeguarding privacy throughout each step.

Our streamlined ordering and testing workflow assures ease of interaction, from scheduling an appointment to receiving results efficiently.

We take confidentiality seriously, ensuring personal data remains protected while delivering accurate drug test outcomes.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Malaga, OH's Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing for hair follicle tests, ensuring affordability without sacrificing quality.

Clients enjoy fast turnaround times on test results, providing excellent value and assured service quality irrespective of company size.

The combination of affordability and efficiency helps clients make informed decisions promptly, backed by reliable testing results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Malaga, OH, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their fast, precise, and trustworthy results. Their ability to accurately detect substance use makes them a preferred choice for many.

Employers benefit from the high accuracy of hair tests, which swiftly identify drug use, providing peace of mind and ensuring workplace safety with minimal delay.

The speed of processing hair follicle tests ensures that results are delivered promptly, allowing for quick decision-making and reducing the turnaround time.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Malaga, OH, hair follicle testing provides compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing potential legal risks.

Utilizing these tests offers peace of mind through enhanced safety and adherence to company policies, creating a safer workplace.

Hair tests enable employers to maintain consistent compliance, minimizing risks associated with non-compliance and ensuring a drug-free 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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