Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Madison, KS

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol ingestion. Hair serves as a long-term record of alcohol and drug presence by ensnaring biomarkers within the strands as the hair grows. Collected near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period for substances of up to roughly three months. It is easy to gather, somewhat challenging to alter, and straightforward to send.

An ideal test involves a 1.5-inch segment comprising around 200 strands (approximate diameter of a #2 pencil) from the scalp, providing 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and validation. For EtG add-ons and/or testing beyond 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advised. Measurement of the specimen on a jeweler's scale is suggested. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. The term head hair exclusively pertains to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types such as facial or axillary hair.

Process Breakdown

The lab processing of a drug test result involves four principal phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Verification.

Accessioning is the primary incorporation of a specimen into the lab system. It entails ensuring the sample's seal and shipment were proper, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not included by an electronic custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive result must be verified for legal acceptance. Presumptive positive samples during Screening require a follow-up verification.

Should a sample test presumptive positive in Screening, more hair is taken from the original sample for the Extraction phase, where drugs are extracted at a much lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug analysis a challenging procedure.

Verification of any screen-positive result occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives are washed prior to confirmation as needed. The entire testing process from Accessioning to Verification undergoes review under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of Hair Drug Testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair assessments can trace back drug consumption for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a shorter timeframe.
• Resilience against tampering: The integrity of hair drug tests makes them resistant to manipulation, yielding more reliable outcomes.
• Historical use indication: Hair tests can outline drug use patterns over time rather than detecting only recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Lacks short-term detection: It typically takes 5-7 days post-consumption for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair testing methods tend to incur higher costs versus other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Individual differences such as hair color and growth rates can influence metabolite concentration in hair samples.

Note: Although often dubbed "hair follicle tests," the procedure analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle located beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Madison, KS
Comparing hair analysis to urine exams, hair testing proves superior by offering an extended detection timeline and improved dependability. While urine tests are common, hair testing has a wider detection range, reaching up to 90 days.

This enhanced detection capability means hair tests provide a broader picture of an individual's drug use history, which can be critical for employers and legal proceedings, offering more trustable results.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Madison, KS
The capability of hair follicle testing to track substance use over a lengthy period ensures a thorough view of a person's history. Spanning up to 90 days, this extended detection window surpasses traditional methods.

Employers and legal entities find value in this prolonged range as it allows them to observe consistent patterns of behavior, rather than just recent use, providing a broader understanding of an individual's habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Madison, KS
The integrity of hair follicle tests rests in their resistance to tempering, offering results that are dependable and unquestionable.

Unlike other tests where sample adulteration is a concern, hair testing is significantly more secure, ensuring that the samples remain pristine until results are confirmed, making it nearly impossible to manipulate the findings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Madison, KS
Our extensive network of testing centers ensures that accessing our services is both easy and hassle-free, no matter where you are in the nation.

Providing both local and nationwide accessibility, our locations are strategically placed to offer prompt testing services, facilitating an efficient process for our clients, ensuring convenience and rapid access.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Madison, KS
The hair follicle testing process is straightforward and ensures confidentiality for users. From ordering to testing and receiving results, the steps are designed with privacy in mind.

For those concerned about confidentiality, our methods are built to protect personal information and ensure an easy-to-follow process, providing peace of mind to all involved in the testing procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Madison, KS
Our competitive pricing structures, combined with swift result delivery, ensure that businesses of all sizes can take advantage of top-tier testing without financial strain.

Focusing on value, we aim to provide not only efficient services but also affordable options, making hair follicle testing a viable choice for employers seeking both quality and cost-effectiveness.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Madison, KS
The precision of hair follicle testing stands out with its capability to deliver quick and reliable drug detection. This testing method is especially accurate for identifying substance use long-term, offering peace of mind with its high success rate in accurately reporting use.

Hair follicle tests minimize the waiting time for results, ensuring that the analysis is both swift and precise. As these tests are performed in certified labs, the consistency and reliability remain unmatched.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Madison, KS
Adopting hair follicle testing helps businesses adhere to drug-free workplace guidelines, thereby mitigating potential legal ramifications and securing a safety-first environment.

This method not only ensures compliance but also enhances transparency and trust among employees, reducing the risks associated with drug misuse in professional settings.

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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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