Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Schulte, KS

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for detecting substances including drugs and alcohol. Hair captures a prolonged history of substance use by securing biomarkers within its growing strands. When cut near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a three-month period of drug and alcohol usage. Hair sample collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample length of 1.5 inches containing approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides a 100mg sample, optimal for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or beyond 10-panel assessments, a 150mg sample is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is unobtainable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. The term head hair pertains solely to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial and axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for drug test results encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In Accessioning, the initial sample handling occurs within the laboratory's framework. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and sent, assigns a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) at random, and completes any necessary additional data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an instant preliminary evaluation for substance abuse. Although an efficient approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screening must be verified for courtroom acceptance. Samples preliminarily positive during Screening require subsequent confirmation.

Upon a presumptive positive result in Screening, more hair is separated from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Drugs are isolated from hair here, at concentrations much more refined than other techniques like urine or oral fluid, thus making hair drug analysis the most intricate method to execute.

Confirmation for any preliminarily positive screening is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive specimens receive a wash before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify substance use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection timeframe.
• Cheating deterrence: Hair drug tests are notably difficult to deceive, enhancing accuracy of results.
• Chronological usage data: These tests offer a traceable pattern of drug consumption over an extended period, contrasting with recent use findings.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect early use: Drugs become detectable in hair only after around 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally incurs higher costs than alternative methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Influences like hair color and individual growth differences can affect drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Tests commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests" actually analyze the hair strand rather than the underlying follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Schulte, KS, hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over urine testing. Hair tests provide prolonged detection periods, accurately identifying substance use up to 90 days. Unlike urine tests, which detect recent usage, hair testing offers superior detection accuracy and reliability. This ensures employers make informed decisions, fostering a safe and compliant workplace.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Schulte, KS, offers a thorough assessment of an individual's substance history. This method provides employers with a broader perspective on an applicant or employee's past drug usage, contributing to informed hiring decisions and fostering a drug-free workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

For businesses in Schulte, KS, hair follicle tests present a tamper-resistant drug testing method. The reduced likelihood of adulteration ensures reliable results. Unlike other methods, hair tests minimize the risk of sample manipulation, providing employers with confidence in the accuracy and integrity of the test outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Schulte, KS, and across the nation, our testing centers offer convenience and accessibility. Nationwide testing locations allow for quick and hassle-free access to services. Local presence ensures individuals and employers can easily meet their testing needs, promoting a seamless process for detecting substance use.

Simple, Confidential Process

Hair follicle testing in Schulte, KS, promises a simple and confidential process. From ordering the test to receiving results, every step is designed to protect privacy while being user-friendly. This ensures that clients can trust the process, confident that their sensitive information is handled with care and professionalism.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Schulte, KS, we offer hair follicle testing with competitive pricing and fast turnaround times. Our affordable services provide excellent value for businesses of all sizes. The accessibility and speed of results mean companies can trust the reliability and efficiency of the testing process, gaining peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Schulte, KS, hair follicle drug tests promise quick, precise, and trustworthy outcomes. Speed and high accuracy characterize these tests, making them invaluable for detecting substance use. Their ability to rapidly analyze samples ensures that employers and individuals receive timely information, supporting effective decision-making and maintaining a secure environment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Schulte, KS, can achieve compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. By enforcing drug-free workplace policies, this method reduces legal risks and elevates workplace safety. Ensuring adherence to regulations, hair testing supports a secure work environment and bolsters employer reputation and trust.

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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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