Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Richland, SD

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug usage by imbedding biomarkers into the strands of the growing hair. When samples are taken near the scalp, hair offers an approximately 3-month detection window for such substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch portion consisting of about 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) from nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg—the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. It's advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair can be compiled. References to head hair imply scalp hair only, while body hair pertains to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test involves four crucial steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially entered into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in court. Samples with presumptive positive results in Screening need secondary confirmation.

In cases where a sample shows a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screen is completed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation if required. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes evaluation under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to tamper with: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, ensuring more reliable results.
• Shows usage history: It reveals a drug use pattern over time, instead of only recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days following use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Often described as "hair follicle tests", these tests actually analyze the strand of hair rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to urine tests in Richland, SD, the former emerges as a superior choice. The accuracy of hair analysis outperforms conventional urine tests, capturing a broader detection window. This method ensures enhanced detection accuracy and reliability in identifying substance use.

Employers and legal authorities who require high precision find hair testing invaluable. The method's superior detection capabilities over urine testing make it indispensable in fostering a safe and compliant environment.

Extended Detection Window

In Richland, SD, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, capable of revealing drug use up to 90 days prior. This method allows employers to scrutinize an individual’s substance history comprehensively, enhancing their decision-making process.

Employers gain significant insights into applicants or employees with this long detection period that traditional methods lack. It enables organizations to study substance use over months, not just days, enriching evaluations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing is hailed in Richland, SD, for its inherent tamper resistance. The robust testing method significantly diminishes risks related to sample adulteration, ensuring that results cannot be easily manipulated.

This testing proves beneficial for workplaces and legal settings alike, providing unquestionable results and maintaining rigorous standards against any attempts to deceive the system.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Available throughout Richland, SD, and across the nation, our convenient testing centers ensure easy access. Nationwide coverage allows for quick and hassle-free drug testing services, meeting diverse needs across various locations.

Being easily accessible and strategically located, we make testing simple and convenient wherever required, offering swift service without unnecessary delays.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Richland, SD, the process of ordering, conducting, and receiving hair follicle test results is straightforward and confidential. This method addresses privacy concerns, ensuring ease and discretion at each stage.

The streamlined approach not only guarantees user comfort but also ensures that results are received confidentially, maintaining individual privacy intact throughout the testing procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Richland, SD, benefits from competitive pricing and fast turnaround in hair follicle testing. Providing cost-effective solutions, we ensure quality service for organizations, regardless of scale, delivering maximum value.

Our prompt result delivery promises swift decision-making capabilities, supporting businesses with fast-paced operations without compromising on accuracy or reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and promptness of hair follicle drug tests in Richland, SD, mark their superiority. By offering high accuracy, these tests precisely detect substances, ensuring reliable outcomes. Rapid processing coupled with dependable results makes hair testing a preferred choice among professionals.

Hair tests deliver fast and accurate results, enhancing confidence in the testing process. Their meticulous nature ensures that obtained data is both valid and reliable, reflecting true substance use patterns.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Incorporating hair follicle testing in Richland, SD, ensures compliance with stringent workplace drug-free policies. This testing method helps mitigate legal risks, providing peace of mind for employers aiming for a secure workspace.

Adopting such testing strategies enhances employee safety, supports organizational policies, and establishes a proactive approach to minimizing legal disputes related to substance use.

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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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