Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Goff, KS

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a comprehensive history by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can indicate drug and alcohol use for up to a 3-month period. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and transportation is uncomplicated.

A sample of 1.5 inches comprising approximately 200 hairs (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp produces 100mg of hair, which is optimal for analysis. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a corresponding quantity of body hair can be gathered. References to head hair specifically pertain to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four key stages in the lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially integrated into a lab’s system. This phase includes ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to eliminate drug use in most cases, a positive result must be confirmed for legal acceptance. Samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening necessitate an additional confirmation.

If Screening suggests a sample is positive, more hairs are extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly reduced concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples with presumptive positives undergo washing before Confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can determine drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection time frame.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, leading to more precise results.
• Offers historical insights: It provides trends of drug use over time, not solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent consumption: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing strategies.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on 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 Goff, KS: Hair testing surpasses traditional urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy and long-term reliability. Employers benefit from the longer tracing period of up to 90 days, which urine tests cannot match. This improved detection method results in a more thorough and reliable assessment of an individual’s substance use history, making it a preferred choice in many scenarios.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Goff, KS: Hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage with its extended detection window, capturing drug use up to 90 days prior. This capability ensures employers receive a thorough view of an applicant's or employee's substance history. The longer detection period allows for a comprehensive insight, crucial when assessing candidate suitability and ongoing employee compliance with drug-free policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Goff, KS: One key benefit of hair follicle testing is its resistance to tampering. Unlike other methods, hair tests minimize the risk of sample adulteration, providing reliable and unquestionable results. This integrity in testing protects both the employer and employee, ensuring fair and accurate drug screening results that stand the test of scrutiny and legal challenges.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Goff, KS: With Accredited Drug Testing's nationwide centers, including local facilities in Goff, accessing hair follicle testing services is convenient and hassle-free. Regardless of where you are located, our centers provide quick, easy testing services, ensuring minimal disruption to both employers' and employees' schedules, thus supporting efficient drug-free workplace programs.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Goff, KS: Our testing process is straightforward and confidential, from ordering to receiving results. This approach ensures privacy and ease of use, addressing concerns of confidentiality. The seamless steps involved in hair follicle testing reassure employers and individuals that their information is secure and their experience is handled with the utmost discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Goff, KS: We offer competitive pricing structures and quick result turnaround times for our hair follicle tests. Companies of all sizes benefit from excellent value, enhancing their cost-efficiency while ensuring timely access to reliable results. Our pricing and speed do not compromise quality, delivering superior service at affordable rates without delay.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Goff, KS: Hair follicle drug tests in Goff offer unparalleled precision and speed. With their high accuracy, they are effective in identifying substance use. Results come swiftly and are dependable, ensuring you get precise information without delay, providing peace of mind for employers and individuals alike, showcasing the effectiveness and reliability of hair testing over other methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Goff, KS: Implementing hair follicle testing helps employers stay compliant with drug-free workplace policies. It reduces legal risks associated with drug use in the workplace and enhances safety. This solid compliance framework offers employers peace of mind, knowing they are actively maintaining a safe and productive work environment for all employees.

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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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