Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Galatia, KS

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now widely recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the hair fiber's structure, hair offers a prolonged overview of alcohol and drug history. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer roughly a three-month period for detecting alcohol and other substances. Collection of hair is straightforward, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches and comprising around 200 hair strands (approximately the dimension of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. We suggest verifying the specimen's weight using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be procured. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key phases in processing a drug test result in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the foundational steps of incorporating a sample into the lab's system. This process ensures the sample is adequately sealed and sent, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any further details not covered by the electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening is designed to swiftly identify potential drug use. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive result requires validation to be legally permissible. Samples testing positive in Screening mandate a follow-up confirmation.

Presumptively positive samples in Screening undergo further hair extraction from the main specimen to prepare for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from the hair at concentrations much lower than other approaches (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening is notably complex.

Confirmation of positive screening results is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation, if necessary. The laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated adhering to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and the compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 norms.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which possess a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: It is notably challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: It provides a broader view of drug usage patterns over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent consumption: It takes around 5 to 7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to alternative testing techniques.
• Result variations: Differences such as hair color and personal hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Despite being often dubbed as "hair follicle tests", the assessment is performed on the hair strand outside the scalp, not the follicle itself.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing triumphs over traditional urine testing in Galatia, KS, offering superior accuracy and detection reliability. Its ability to uncover drug use over extended periods surpasses the capabilities of urine tests, which are limited to shorter detection windows.

The effectiveness of hair testing lies in its resilience against tampering and ensures precise results, appealing to employers striving for robust drug-free policies.

Extended Detection Window

Galatia, KS benefits from hair follicle testing's extended detection capabilities, spanning up to 90 days. This feature provides employers with a more comprehensive view of an individual's substance use history.

This longer detection window enhances the credibility of background checks, making it an invaluable tool for employers seeking thorough substance use evaluations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Galatia, KS, hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant method of drug screening. By significantly reducing the risk of sample manipulation, this testing method guarantees reliable results that are hard to dispute.

The resistance to tampering inherent in hair testing ensures the integrity of data collected, thus maintaining trust in critical employment and legal processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Galatia, KS enjoys the convenience of Accredited Drug Testing’s expansive network of testing centers nationwide. This infrastructure facilitates prompt and hassle-free service access, ensuring clients can conduct necessary tests seamlessly.

Our local and national presence removes logistical barriers, providing easy access to quality testing across the country.

Simple, Confidential Process

Galatia, KS residents experience simplicity and privacy with our drug testing process, ensuring confidentiality from order placement to results reception.

Our straightforward approach addresses privacy concerns by maintaining discretion and efficiency throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Galatia, KS benefits from competitive pricing and quick turnaround times for hair follicle testing, providing excellent value for organizations of all sizes.

The cost-effectiveness and speed of our testing service deliver significant advantages, reinforcing financial efficiency without compromising quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Galatia, KS, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their precision and swiftness. These tests deliver fast results, ensuring high accuracy in substance detection, providing both peace of mind and reliable data.

The rapid processing and pinpoint accuracy of hair follicle tests offer unparalleled insights into substance use, making them a preferred choice in Galatia.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Galatia, KS gain compliance assurance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing, which fortifies adherence to drug-free workplace policies and lowers legal risks.

Hair testing's rigorous standards and reliability bolster workplace safety, making it a crucial aspect for organizations committed to maintaining secure and compliant environments.

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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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