Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Peck, KS

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a significant method for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers an extensive record of alcohol and substance use by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair fibers. When taken near the scalp, hair can indicate alcohol and drug presence for a period of up to approximately three months. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to alter, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for both testing and confirmation. For EtG tests, extensions, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen weight of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen weight. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When referring to head hair, it specifically means scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test result processing at the laboratory comprises four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the primary phase of processing a sample in a lab's system. This step involves confirming that the sample is sealed and sent correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid examination for substance abuse. Screening provides an economical means to exclude drug use in most cases, but any positive screen requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples presumed positive in Screening demand further confirmation.

Should a sample have a presumptive positive result at the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial yield and prepared for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from the hair at significantly lower concentrations than alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening a challenging procedure.

Positive results from the screening are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing as necessary before confirmation. The complete lab processing from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests have the capacity to reveal substance use up to 90 days, surpassing urine tests' shorter detection time.
• Resistance to tampering: Tampering with a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: Provides insights into drug use patterns spanning a significant timeframe, not just recent instances.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: A period of about 5-7 days is needed before drugs become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Result disparities: Influences such as hair color and personal hair growth disparities can alter drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests," the evaluation is conducted on the hair strand rather than the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Traditional Urine Tests in Peck, KS. Hair testing provides distinct benefits over urine tests with superior detection accuracy and reliability. The extended timeframe detects drug use over months, giving a full view of an individual's substance history, making it indispensable in drug testing protocols.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window for Drug Use in Peck, KS. One of the standout advantages of hair follicle testing is the extensive detection window of up to 90 days. This long duration helps employers in Peck, KS gain a detailed understanding of an employee's compliance with substance use policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Reliable, Tamper-Resistant Testing in Peck, KS. Hair follicle tests are a robust defense against sample tampering. Their method ensures trustworthy results, making it exceedingly difficult for individuals to alter their test outcomes, thereby guaranteeing integrity in testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations Available Nationwide and in Peck, KS. Our extensive network of testing centers across the country, including Peck, KS, ensures that testing services are easily accessible. This convenience offers seamless integration into companies' drug testing policies.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple and Confidential Testing Process in Peck, KS. The method for ordering and taking hair follicle tests is straightforward and ensures privacy. This easily accessible process is designed to uphold confidentiality, from the test order through to the final results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Swift Turnaround Times in Peck, KS. Our competitive pricing along with rapid result delivery provides excellent value for businesses of all sizes. This balance of cost-effectiveness and quick service enhances the overall testing experience.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Efficient Testing in Peck, KS. Hair follicle drug tests offer unparalleled speed and precision in substance detection. In Peck, KS, the accuracy of these tests is unmatched, ensuring that any drug use is reliably detected, providing critical insights quickly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Peace of Mind for Peck, KS Employers. Utilizing hair follicle testing guarantees adherence to drug-free workplace policies. Such testing not only minimizes legal risks but also bolsters workplace safety, allowing employers to maintain a secure and compliant environment.

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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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