Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Fulton, KS

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now regarded as an effective means for identifying the consumption of alcohol and drugs. Hair captures biomarkers within the fibers of the elongating hair strand, offering a long-term account of substance use. When harvested near the scalp, hair can present a detection window for alcohol and drugs of approximately 3 months. Collection is straightforward, tampering is somewhat challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hairs (akin to the diameter of a #2 pencil) collected closest to the scalp produces 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for assessment and validation. For EtG, supplementary testing, and/or screenings exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We advise measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a comparable quantity of body hair may be gathered. When we mention head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory examination of a drug test result is composed of four fundamental steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the sample’s preliminary entry into a laboratory's records. This incorporates ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening is a preliminary swift assessment for drugs of abuse. Screening offers a cost-efficient means to exclude drug utilization in the majority of samples, though a positive screen necessitates confirmation to stand in a court of law. All samples presumed positive during Screening demand a secondary verification.

When a sample appears positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is drawn from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), accounting for the complexity of performing hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any presumptive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory protocol from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug testing can identify drug use up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests which have a shorter period of detection.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is significantly arduous to falsify results in a hair drug test, ensuring better accuracy.
• Reveals historical usage: Offers a timeline of drug use spanning a duration, not only recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: Drugs typically become detectable in hair around 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally pricier than other testing methods.
• Variable results: Elements like hair color and distinct individual hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Fulton, KS, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests in various respects. One key advantage is the lengthened detection window, offering a retrospective view over months rather than days. Moreover, the reliability of hair tests in capturing consistent substance use is unmatched, rendering them a preferable choice over the traditional urine analyses prevalent in the past.

Extended Detection Window

In Fulton, KS, hair follicle testing can reveal drug usage up to 90 days prior. This extended detection window provides employers a comprehensive picture of a person's substance use history. Understanding prior drug behavior is essential for organizations looking to make informed decisions about hiring or ongoing employment, ensuring a drug-free workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle test is a robust method against tampering in Fulton, KS. Minimizing the risk of sample adulteration, it offers a significant advantage over other testing procedures. Due to its unique collection and testing methods, reliable outcomes are nearly guaranteed, ensuring the integrity of each sample from collection to results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing boasts local and national centers, making hair follicle testing accessible in Fulton, KS. With convenient locations, individuals and businesses can easily schedule and conduct necessary drug tests without fuss, promoting hassle-free service delivery across a broad geographic network.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Fulton, KS, the procedure for hair follicle testing is both simple and highly confidential. From initial order to result reception, every step prioritizes privacy and ease. Clients are assured their information remains secure while enjoying a streamlined testing process, free from complexity or unnecessary disclosure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing in Fulton, KS, hair follicle testing also ensures fast turnaround times. This combination of affordability and efficiency provides significant value, catering to businesses and individuals needing dependable results without financial strain. Quick, reliable outcomes support all stakeholders' needs effectively.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and rapid response of hair follicle drug tests in Fulton, KS, set them apart. Accuracy in identifying substance use is remarkably high, making them a top choice for those who need trustworthy outcomes quickly. The procedure, renowned for its speed, ensures swift verification of drug levels, securing results that organizations and individuals can depend on, without delay.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Fulton, KS, hair follicle testing increases compliance and offers peace of mind. By aligning with drug-free workplace policies, the necessity of these tests in reducing legal risks while elevating safety standards is clear. Ensuring a secure working environment becomes achievable with regular and reliable testing 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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