Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dellvale, KS

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a formidable method for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, notoriously hard to tamper with, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is an optimal sample for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be used, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair indicates all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial stage of integrating a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any additional data not included by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Screening is a cost-efficient technique to dismiss drug usage in most samples, but a positive outcome must be verified to be valid in court. Any samples that test presumptively positive during Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive at the Screening phase, further hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that test presumptively positive are washed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the 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 reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, while urine tests have a shorter detection period.
• Harder to manipulate: It's exceedingly difficult to alter a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: It offers insights into a pattern of drug use over time, unlike solely recent use detection.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Higher cost: Hair drug tests typically incur more expense compared to other testing strategies.
• Result variability: Aspects such as hair color and individual hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites.

Note: Despite being labeled as "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Choosing hair over urine testing in Dellvale, KS provides superior detection accuracy. While traditional urine tests detect recent drug use, hair follicle tests offer a broad detection span and are notoriously difficult to cheat. Employers benefit from the reliability and comprehensive overview hair tests provide, safeguarding their work environments from potential substance misuse threats.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window reaching up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Dellvale, KS offers employers a thorough perspective on applicants' or employees' drug use histories. This prolonged detection capacity allows organizations to understand better the substance patterns and potential risks associated with their candidates or staff, fostering informed hiring and employment practices.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle drug tests serve as a tamper-resistant method for detecting substance use in Dellvale, KS. The nature of hair analysis significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration, thereby offering unequivocal and reliable results. This secure methodology fortifies the integrity of the testing process, presenting undoubted accuracy to all stakeholders involved.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With nationwide testing centers and dedicated local offices in Dellvale, KS, accessing drug testing services has never been more convenient. These widespread locations enable individuals and businesses to seek timely, efficient testing without the hassle of lengthy travel or wait times. The approach streamlines the testing process, offering easy solutions for all testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Dellvale, KS, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease at every step. Customers can confidently order tests, undergo testing, and receive results swiftly, without compromising personal data. The process is designed with user-friendliness in mind, alleviating concerns about privacy and accessibility.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and fast turnaround characterize the hair follicle testing services available in Dellvale, KS. Competitive rates ensure that companies of all sizes can manage their testing needs without overstretching budgets. Alongside rapid result delivery, these tests present a valuable solution for businesses seeking efficient and cost-effective drug testing options.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Dellvale, KS, hair follicle testing offers precision and speed unmatched by traditional methods. The process quickly delivers accurate results, ensuring that individuals are rightfully assessed for substance use. This method involves sophisticated analysis capable of pinpointing drug usage patterns reliably, enhancing the decision-making capabilities of employers and legal entities.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Dellvale, KS can achieve peace of mind and compliance using hair follicle tests to enforce drug-free policies. This method not only mitigates legal risks but also strengthens workplace safety standards. Ensuring employees adhere to sobriety helps companies maintain a productive and secure environment, reflecting their commitment to regulatory compliance and ethical business practices.

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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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