Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Fairport, KS

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is acknowledged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a chronic record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection span of up to roughly three months for substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising approximately 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for preliminary testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional screenings, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. In relation to head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The drug test result processing in a lab is divided into four core steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system, involving the verification of proper sealing and shipment of the sample, the allocation of a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and the completion of additional data entry absent in electronic chain of custody systems.

Screening executes an initial rapid assessment for drug misuse. Though cost-effective for eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive screen mandates confirmation to be legally credible. Samples that yield presumptive positives in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample yield a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are extracted from the hair at substantially lower levels than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening a particularly challenging methodology.

For confirming any positive screening outcomes, techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are employed. All samples presuming positive are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The whole lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes evaluation under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Prominent Benefits of Hair Drug Testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug screening can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine screenings with shorter detection spans.
• Hard to manipulate: Hair drug screenings are very difficult to tamper with, ensuring more reliable results.
• Supplies usage history: Establishes a pattern of drug usage over a timeline, rather than solely reflecting recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Unable to identify recent consumption: It roughly takes between 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug screenings are typically more costly than alternative drug screening methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can affect drug metabolite concentration within hair.

Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Wins over Urine Testing
In Fairport, KS, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests by providing superior accuracy in substance detection. The extended detection duration and difficulty in tampering make hair tests more reliable. Employers benefit from a clearer view of an individual's substance use history.

Traditional urine tests fall short where hair follicle tests excel, especially regarding the potential to detect a wider array of substances. Hair testing allows for a more comprehensive analysis, ensuring a broader spectrum of drug detection.

Extended Detection Window

Long-Term Substance Detection: Hair Follicle Testing
Hair follicle tests in Fairport, KS, offer an unprecedented detection window of up to 90 days. This allows for a deeper insight into an individual’s history of substance use, offering employers a more extended view than typical testing methods.

Such a comprehensive detection window significantly aids in understanding long-term patterns in substance use. Accredited Drug Testing provides an extensive look back at drug and alcohol use, aiding in informed decision-making for companies and organizations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Robust and Tamper-Resistant Testing
Hair follicle tests are designed to minimize the risk of tampering or adulteration, providing Fairport, KS, with reliable outcomes that stand strong against any form of manipulation. This security ensures the test results remain accurate and honest.

Unlike urine samples, which can be easily altered, hair samples capture consistent results, affirming their reliability and integrity. Employers and professionals gain confidence in these trusted methods.

• Sample integrity guaranteed
• Results remain unhindered

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience: Nationwide and Local Testing Availability
Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing centers spread Nationwide, including local services in Fairport, KS, ensuring simple access to hair follicle testing. Quick and hassle-free service remains a standard we uphold across all our offices.

With our strategic locations, you can expect testing to be both accessible and efficient, eliminating unnecessary complexities. Whether in Fairport or anywhere in the nation, we ensure seamless service for all individuals and companies.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplicity and Confidentiality in Testing
In Fairport, KS, our hair follicle testing process emphasizes simplicity and confidentiality. Ordering, sample collection, and results are handled discreetly, making sure every step respects your privacy and security needs.

• Order easily online or by phone
• Secure, private processing
• Confidential results delivery

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Prices, Fast Results
Our services in Fairport, KS, showcase affordability and rapid response, making hair follicle testing accessible for companies of all sizes. Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing structures without compromising the speed of result delivery.

With a focus on value, our testing services cater to varying budgets while maintaining precision. Rely on us for high-quality testing that’s both cost-effective and efficient, ensuring you get the best services at the best prices.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and Speed: Hair Follicle Drug Tests
In Fairport, KS, the hair follicle drug test stands out for its speed and precision. These tests quickly deliver results without sacrificing accuracy, ensuring you get the information you need promptly. The efficiency of hair tests makes them a reliable choice, leaving no room for doubt in their results.

When time is of the essence, Accredited Drug Testing simplifies the testing process with quick sample collection and analysis. Count on our facilities for prompt, dependable outcomes tailored for both personal and professional settings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance: Hair Testing for Employers
Employers in Fairport, KS, can rely on hair follicle testing to help enforce drug-free workplace policies. The comprehensive nature of these tests reduces legal risks and enhances overall workplace safety, delivering peace of mind to management.

By adopting hair testing, companies benefit from rapid and accurate results, ensuring that their workforce remains compliant with internal and regulatory standards. The reliability of the method reassures employers that their drug policies are effectively maintained.

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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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