Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bush City, KS

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a significant method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair, it offers an extended timeline of substance use. When cut close to the scalp, hair can reveal a history of alcohol and other substances up to roughly a 3-month period. It is straightforward to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly as thick as a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a recommendation of 150mg is preferred. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn't present, a similar quantity of body hair might be used. When we discuss head hair, it's exclusive to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes any other forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test consists of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the primary processing of a sample into the laboratory’s system. This step ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipment, the allotment of a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and handling any additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody platform.

Screening offers an initial rapid check for substances of abuse. While it's a cost-effective method to dismiss drug use in most cases, any positive outcome requires subsequent confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening demand further confirmation.

When Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other procedures (such as urine or oral fluids), emphasizing the complexity of hair drug testing methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptive positive undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The end-to-end laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is monitored under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited by ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a reduced detection span.
• High resistance to tampering: Hair drug testing is very difficult to compromise, enhancing the reliability of results.
• Chronological usage data: Provides insights into patterns of drug use over time, not restricted just to recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: Drug presence becomes discernible in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to other testing methodologies.
• Result fluctuations: Variations such as hair color and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bush City, KS

• Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing excels in detection accuracy, offering superior reliability.
• The extended detection period and ease of administration make it a preferred method among many organizations.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bush City, KS

• With an impressive detection window up to 90 days, hair follicle tests provide a comprehensive substance use overview.
• This expanded timeframe assists employers in making informed decisions regarding potential hires and current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bush City, KS

• Hair follicle tests offer a robust defense against sample tampering, ensuring the authenticity of test results.
• With minimal risk of adulteration, these tests retain their credibility and reliability across diverse settings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bush City, KS

• Our testing centers span the nation, ensuring ease of access and swift service to all our clients.
• Experience hassle-free testing processes with our strategically located facilities in Bush City and beyond.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bush City, KS

• Our testing procedure is straightforward, maintaining confidentiality from ordering to result retrieval.
• Users can trust in our efforts to protect privacy while ensuring efficient test processing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bush City, KS

• Our competitive pricing structures make top-tier drug testing services accessible to businesses of all sizes.
• With quick turnaround times, receive results promptly, supporting timely decision-making.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bush City, KS

• Hair follicle drug tests stand out for their swiftness and precision, offering rapid and trustworthy outcomes.
• Designed for high-stakes environments, these tests ensure an unmatched level of accuracy in detecting substance usage.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bush City, KS

• Hair follicle testing supports compliance with drug-free policies, significantly reducing legal liabilities.
• By promoting workplace safety, these tests contribute to a serene and secure 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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