Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pleasant Hills, OH

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of substances by embedding biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When collected from near the scalp, hair can offer a detection span of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and other substances. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation purposes. For additional tests such as EtG, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be collected, the equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, we mean only scalp hair; body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails the initial incorporation of a sample into the laboratory’s system. This process confirms that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Though screening is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal acceptance in court. Any samples that indicate a possible positive in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

If a sample appears positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for the Extraction process. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most difficult method to conduct.

Confirmation for any positive screening findings is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating a presumptive positive are washed prior to confirmation, as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed 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 period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection period.
• Challenging to circumvent: Cheating a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent indulgence.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the actual test examines the hair strand and not the hair follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Pleasant Hills, OH lies in its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair drug tests recognize drug use over a longer period, typically up to 90 days. This extended detection window provides a reliable snapshot of an individual's substance history, outperforming urine tests in comprehensiveness, making it invaluable for employers seeking a thorough examination of potential hires or current employees.

Extended Detection Window

The Extended Detection Window is a strong point for hair follicle testing in Pleasant Hills, OH, as it reveals drug usage over extended periods, often up to 90 days. This comprehensive ability to track past substance use provides employers with deep insights into an individual's substance history, ensuring that they can make informed employment-related decisions and maintain a drug-free workplace with greater efficacy.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing offers a Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Pleasant Hills, OH, greatly reducing the prospect of sample adulteration. This assessment's nature ensures reliable, unquestionable outcomes, removing opportunities for deception or manipulation. Employers benefit from consistent and trustworthy data, crucial for maintaining accurate records and upholding high standards in employment screening processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessing testing centers is Convenient in Pleasant Hills, OH, thanks to our nationwide locations. The comprehensive network of testing facilities ensures simple, quick, and hassle-free access to testing services. This broad availability empowers individuals and organizations to effortlessly arrange for hair follicle drug tests, delivering convenience through a substantial array of locations across the nation.

Simple, Confidential Process

Experience a Simple and Confidential Process in Pleasant Hills, OH for hair follicle tests. From ordering to receiving results, the process is straightforward, addressing privacy concerns effectively. Our approach ensures users experience dignity and respect throughout, promoting ease of use and trust while managing this critical aspect of employment and personal health screenings.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Pleasant Hills, OH, we emphasize unbeatable value for businesses of all sizes. Our competitive costs and expedited result delivery furnish clients with exceptional economic and operational advantages. Ensuring effective management across employment screening, our services enhance customer satisfaction through meeting speed and economic expectations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Pleasant Hills, OH offers fast, accurate, and reliable results, highlighting its precision in detecting substances. The accuracy and speed at which hair tests deliver outcomes make them a preferred choice for ensuring trustworthy and timely substance screening. Employers can rely on this method knowing that outcomes are both precise and swift, facilitating immediate and informed decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Pleasant Hills, OH comes from employing hair follicle testing. This method ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, helping mitigate legal risks while elevating workplace safety. With a focus on long-term drug detection, employers can secure an atmosphere of integrity and harmony, reducing potential conflicts associated with employee substance abuse.

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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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