Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sharonville, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extensive timeline of substance intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of its progressing strand. When collected near the scalp, it can reveal up to a three-month detection window for these substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 hairs (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, extra tests, or those beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen. If no scalp hair is available, a similar amount of body hair is acceptable. "Head hair" pertains exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in processing a lab drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial sample input into a lab's system. This process includes checking the sample's seal and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary check for drug presence. Although cost-effective for ruling out drug use in most samples, legal admissibility requires a confirmed positive screen. Any preliminarily positive samples necessitate confirmation.

Should a sample show a preliminary positive result during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are separated from hair at a lower concentration than other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), underscoring the challenge of hair drug screening.

Any positive screening results undergo confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation as required. The entirety of the lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is supervised under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests track drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer shorter detection periods.
• Hard to manipulate: The likelihood of cheating is significantly reduced in hair drug tests, ensuring higher accuracy.
• Historical insight: Hair tests can reveal a timeline of drug use extending beyond recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs don't become detectable in hair until 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing techniques.
• Result variations: Differences such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Sharonville, OH, hair follicle testing stands superior due to its high detection accuracy compared to urine tests. Hair tests analyze a longer history of substance use, providing a clearer picture.

The benefits include consistency and reliability. Where urine tests might be limited, hair testing affords thorough and extensive insights into users' drug consumption patterns.

This method grows in popularity among employers striving for enhanced precision and efficient drug use detection.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Sharonville, OH, benefit from hair follicle testing's extended detection window, which can reveal drug use within the last 90 days.

Compared to other testing methods, hair sampling provides a much broader view, thus offering comprehensive assessments for a potential hire or current employee.

This extended window allows employers to ensure a safe and responsible workplace environment by monitoring substance use history effectively.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests offer Sharonville, OH, significant resistance to adulteration attempts, producing reliable, unquestionable results.

This method's integrity stems from its sample collection process, which makes it challenging for individuals to tamper with, unlike urine tests that may be more prone to adulteration.

By reducing the risk of sample alteration, hair testing provides peace of mind to both employers and officials who demand authenticity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous locations in Sharonville, OH, and throughout the nation, finding a convenient testing facility is hassle-free, ensuring quick and easy access.

Accredited Drug Testing's widespread presence allows clients to schedule tests at their convenience, providing an unmatched level of service and accessibility.

The network of nationwide centers offers standardized testing experiences, making the process smooth and efficient for all users.

Simple, Confidential Process

The entire testing process in Sharonville, OH, is straightforward and confidential, easing any privacy concerns.

Beginning with simple samples collection, the procedure respects client privacy, ensuring ease of use while maintaining discretion throughout.

Whether for employers or individuals, obtaining and receiving results is handled professionally, prioritizing confidentiality at every stage of the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our Sharonville, OH location provides competitively priced hair follicle tests, offering excellent value to businesses of all sizes.

Beyond affordability, quick turnaround times deliver results promptly, ideal for companies that require swift decisions or actions.

Combining cost-efficiency with speed, the service ensures peace of mind, maintaining quality without compromise.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test methodology in Sharonville, OH assures fast and precise results. With its high level of accuracy, it offers unparalleled detection of substance use, making it a preferred choice.

Sharonville's testing facilities prioritize delivering results swiftly, ensuring that clients have the information they need without long waits.

Highly reliable, these tests help both organizations and individuals make informed decisions driven by prompt and dependable results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Sharonville, OH, ensures compliance with drug-free workplace initiatives, mitigating legal challenges and promoting safety.

Employers gain peace of mind as these tests support zero-tolerance policies effectively, enhancing the overall safety and productivity within the organization.

With its detailed and thorough analysis, hair testing helps businesses maintain their compliance with national regulations and standards.

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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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