Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pisgah, OH

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means of identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term archive for alcohol and drug markers, embedding them within the fibers of the growing strand. When cut close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeframe for drugs and alcohol extending up to about three months. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and is easily shippable.

A 1.5-inch section containing roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, an ideal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, extra tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample size is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. Scalp hair specifically refers to hair from the head, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Overview of the Process

The laboratory analysis of a drug test result involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary handling of a specimen within the lab's framework. This process includes confirming the specimen's proper sealing and dispatch, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening provides a cost-effective strategy to eliminate drug use among most samples, a positive screening result requires confirmation to be legally valid. Samples showing presumptive positives in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

For samples with a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is utilized from the initial sample for the Extraction process. In this phase, drugs are removed from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair testing the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleaned as required. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and certified to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely challenging, ensuring more reliable results.
• Historical consumption data: It offers insights into a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the follicle located beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to urine tests in Pisgah, OH, hair testing stands out for several reasons. The accuracy of hair tests far surpasses that of urine tests, offering reliable detection of substance use.
Moreover, the longer detection window provides a more comprehensive view of an individual's substance habits, offering advantages for employers, courts, and healthcare professionals seeking to understand long-term usage.

Extended Detection Window

In Pisgah, OH, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This method allows employers to gauge an applicant or employee's substance use over a considerable duration.
This comprehensive view aids employers in making informed hiring and retention decisions, ensuring a workforce committed to maintaining a drug-free environment and upholding company values.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Pisgah, OH, significantly reduces risks associated with sample tampering. The integrity of hair tests ensures trustworthy results, unclouded by adulteration concerns.
Employers and legal entities can rely on the robustness of this testing method, offering peace of mind through dependable and accurate substance use data.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient testing locations in Pisgah, OH, and across the nation ensure hassle-free access to hair follicle testing. Accredited Drug Testing centers provide easy and swift service, simplifying the testing process.
This nationwide network allows individuals and employers to access services quickly, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Pisgah, OH, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential. Ordering, undergoing the test, and receiving results are designed to maintain privacy.
The seamless approach addresses privacy concerns and ensures ease of use, making it an appealing option for individuals and employers seeking discreet testing solutions.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing structures, hair follicle testing in Pisgah, OH, is both affordable and fast. Quick turnaround times deliver excellent value, benefiting companies of all sizes.
This cost-effective approach ensures high-quality testing without financial strain, making it accessible for various organizational needs and budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Pisgah, OH, offer exceptional speed and precision. These tests excel in detecting substance use, providing accurate insights that surpass traditional methods. Results are both timely and reliable, making it a preferred option for many.
Quick turnaround times ensure that employers and individuals receive the necessary information promptly, enabling informed decisions without unnecessary delays.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing in Pisgah, OH, offers employers compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This reduces legal risks and enhances overall workplace safety.
Employers can rest assured knowing their drug testing protocols are robust and effective, safeguarding both employee well-being and company integrity.

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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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