Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Athol, KS

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By encapsulating biomarkers within the strands of developing hair, it offers an extensive record of substance use. When harvested near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A sample consisting of 1.5 inches of approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for testing and validation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to collect 150mg of hair. We suggest utilizing a jeweler's scale for precise measurement. Should scalp hair be insufficient, an equal quantity of body hair is an alternative. References to head hair exclusively pertain to scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other types (including facial and axillary).

Process Overview

There are four essential stages in processing a drug test at the lab: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. This step verifies the sample's secure sealing and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addresses any extra data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary examination for drugs of abuse. While it's a cost-efficient approach to largely eliminate drug use, a positive outcome necessitates confirmation to be legally valid. All samples testing positive in Screening require an additional confirmation step.

Should a sample yield a positive Screening result, more hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. In this step, drugs are isolated from hair in lesser concentrations than found in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underlining why hair drug screening is the most challenging to conduct.

Affirmation of any positive screening is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. All preliminary positive samples undergo washing before confirmation when necessary. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can trace drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a briefer detection period.
• Resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug assessment is highly challenging, enhancing the accuracy of outcomes.
• Tracks usage over time: It provides a trajectory of substance use across time, rather than only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments generally incur higher costs compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth patterns can sway the levels of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: While commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Athol, KS, hair follicle testing often outshines traditional urine tests in several key areas. Detection Accuracy with hair testing is superior, allowing a more reliable identification of substance use.

Employers benefit from hair tests due to their extended detection timeline, offering a more comprehensive assessment than urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Athol, KS, offers a much longer detection window, capturing drug use history up to 90 days.

This extended timeline allows employers to thoroughly evaluate an individual's substance use, giving a clearer picture of their behavioral patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The robust methodology of hair follicle testing in Athol, KS, significantly reduces the risk of
sample tampering, ensuring the legitimacy of the results.

These tests offer a higher level of reliability and assurance to those requiring unambiguous outcomes in drug use evaluation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers the ease of nationwide locations, including convenient centers in Athol, KS, streamlining access to testing services.

This accessibility reduces delays, providing quick and hassle-free testing for all individuals and businesses alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

Accredited Drug Testing in Athol, KS, highlights the straightforward and confidential process of hair follicle testing.

From ordering to receiving results, every step is managed with privacy and ease, addressing confidentiality concerns smoothly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Athol, KS, our hair follicle testing services are priced competitively, complemented by a fast turnaround, ensuring great value.

This efficiency and cost-effectiveness offer peace of mind to organizations of all sizes, supporting their drug-testing needs effectively.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Athol, KS, are recognized for delivering swift, precise, and dependable outcomes. They stand out due to their exceptional accuracy in identifying substance use.

Precision and Speed are hallmarks of hair tests, providing reliable screening results rapidly. This ensures timely and informed decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Athol, KS employers, hair follicle testing is key to ensuring workplace compliance and peace of mind, minimizing legal complications.

By employing this method, employers can enforce drug-free workplace policies efficiently, fostering a safe work environment.

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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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