Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ortley, SD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is widely recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a prolonged historical record of alcohol and drug intake. When hair is sampled near the scalp, it can reveal drug or alcohol consumption over a span of around three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient for transportation.

Approximately 1.5 inches of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) collected nearest to the scalp provide about 100mg, the optimal amount needed for both screening and confirmation. For EtG and other extended panels above 10, it is advised to use 150mg. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair may be utilized. Our reference to head hair specifically signifies scalp hair, whereas body hair pertains to all other varieties (such as facial or axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results primarily involves four stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In the Accessioning phase, a sample is initially entered into the laboratory's system, which includes confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data input absent from an electronic chain of custody.

During Screening, a preliminary inspection for drugs of abuse is conducted. While cost-effective in excluding drug usage in most samples, a positive result from Screening requires confirmation for legal proceedings. Any samples evident through Screening as presumptively positive necessitate further confirmation.

If a sample appears presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. At this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underlining the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples identified as presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The overall lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, complies with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can track drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Resistance to falsification: Hair drug tests are notably resistant to tampering, enhancing accuracy.
• Chronological data provision: They reveal a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more than other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentration in hair may vary due to hair color and individual growth differences.

Note: Commonly mistaken as "hair follicle tests", these assessments evaluate the hair strand, not the follicle located below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Ortley, SD

• Employers find hair tests more trustworthy than urine tests due to their comprehensive detection capability, often spanning three months.
• The reliability of a hair follicle test is unrivaled, as it resists tampering, unlike traditional methods which can be prone to manipulation or sampling errors.
• This testing method provides Ortley businesses with an edge, ensuring informed decisions based on credible data.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Ortley, SD

• The hair follicle test allows employers to view a substantial timeline of drug usage, extending up to 90 days, offering a more thorough perspective.
• This capability gives companies confidence in an applicant's history, ensuring a drug-free workplace over an extended duration.
• Such prolonged detection allows for distinguishing patterns of use, invaluable in maintaining occupational health standards.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Ortley, SD

• Due to its uniqueness, a hair follicle test significantly mitigates the risk of sample tampering, ensuring authenticity and dependability in results.
• Employers benefit from this trustworthiness, as it overcomes the challenges posed by common forms of adulteration.
• This robust resistance to interference grants peace of mind and upholds the integrity of drug testing programs in Ortley.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Ortley, SD

• Our widespread testing facilities across the nation make it easy and hassle-free to access services, right in Ortley itself.
• This vast network ensures rapid service availability, minimizing logistical concerns for companies in need of quick testing.
• Such convenience enhances operational efficiency and helps maintain uninterrupted business workflows.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Ortley, SD

• At Accredited Drug Testing, the procedure of ordering, performing, and receiving results is uncomplicated and respects privacy.
• Our clients in Ortley can rely on confidentiality, addressing privacy concerns professionally in an easy-to-follow process.
• By simplifying each step, we promote a stress-free experience that prioritizes the users' peace of mind and trust.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Ortley, SD

• Competitive pricing ensures that testing services remain accessible to businesses of any size, benefiting from quick and efficient operational models.
• Fast processing times mean that companies in Ortley receive timely information, crucial for maintaining strategic operations without delays.
• With this cost-effective solution, organizations benefit from unparalleled value, strengthening their commitment to a drug-free workplace.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Ortley, SD

• Hair follicle drug tests provide exceptional accuracy, speed, and reliability in detecting substance use, setting a new standard for testing precision.
• Results are fast, accommodating the high-paced decision-making needs of companies in Ortley, ensuring that businesses have access to trusted information promptly.
• This efficiency is complemented by the ability to maintain high accuracy rates, revolutionizing substance detection approaches.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Ortley, SD

• The employment of hair follicle testing aligns with compliant drug-free policies, minimizing legal risks and enhancing workplace security.
• Implementing such testing in Ortley guarantees businesses peace of mind, enabling a focus on productivity and safety.
• By adopting comprehensive measures, employers fortify their stance against drug use, fostering an environment conducive to trust and reliability.

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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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