Hair Follicle Drug Testing - North Perry, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments have emerged as a robust method for uncovering the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair strands hold a prolonged record of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within their fibers. When collected near the scalp, hair can provide a detection timeline of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.

By taking a 1.5-inch piece of about 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, you will have 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for both screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the hair is advised. It is best to weigh the hair on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent portion of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we are referring specifically to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

The four key stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the beginning phase where a sample is processed into a lab’s system. It involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entries not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective strategy to exclude drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal validity. Any samples suspected of positivity in Screening require a further confirmation test.

If a sample is assumed positive in the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which is why hair drug testing is the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection window.
• Hard to tamper with: It is quite difficult to cheat a hair drug test, thus enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Historical insight: It can unveil a drug usage pattern over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It requires around 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While frequently termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In North Perry, OH, hair follicle testing is favored over traditional urine tests for several reasons. Hair tests are more reliable and accurate, providing longer detection periods and eliminating easy tampering. Comparatively, urine tests often miss a wider range of drugs and recent delayed use. Hence, hair follicle testing is becoming the standard for those serious about zero-tolerance policies.

Extended Detection Window

One primary advantage of hair follicle testing in North Perry, OH is its extended detection window. Capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior, these tests offer employers a detailed view of a person's drug history. In contrast, traditional testing methods cover a shorter duration, failing to capture a complete substance use picture.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Opting for hair follicle testing in North Perry, OH ensures a tamper-resistant method of drug detection. This approach significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration, as collected hair samples are difficult to fake or alter. This reliable nature provides legitimate results that authorities and employers can trust for accurate evaluations.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient nationwide testing locations, including services in North Perry, OH. With numerous centers, we ensure quick and hassle-free access to the testing services needed. Our network of practices helps reduce wait times and provides flexible testing options.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing procedure in North Perry, OH is designed to be simple and confidential. From booking to receiving the results, every step prioritizes privacy and ease. This straightforward process ensures that clients can confidently engage in testing without concerns about data security or complexity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In North Perry, OH, hair follicle testing is paired with affordable pricing and quick turnaround times. Without sacrificing quality, our competitive rates provide excellent value for businesses of any size, allowing timely insight into employee drug use without exceeding budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results in North Perry, OH. These tests precisely detect substance use, offering employers and individuals rapid insights into drug consumption. Advanced technology used in hair sampling ensures that results reflect true substance use without delay, making it a superior choice for swift and dependable testing.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in North Perry, OH can derive peace of mind and compliance through hair follicle testing. This approach helps adhere to workplace drug-free regulations, minimizing legal exposure. Such testing enhances organizational safety by ensuring a rigorous drug policy and deterring substance misuse in the workplace.

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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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