Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Stippville, KS

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a powerful method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a lengthy history of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the hair as it grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal up to about a 3-month window of detection for alcohol and other drugs. It's easy to gather, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch collection of about 200 hair strands (around the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, the perfect sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or evaluations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is recommended. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent size of body hair can be collected. Talking about head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the preliminary handling of a specimen into a laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample was correctly sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishes any other data input not provided electronically through the chain of custody system.

Screening consists of an initial rapid check for drugs of abuse. Even though this method is an economical way to exclude drug use for most samples, any positive screen must be verified to be court-acceptable. All samples that are presumptively positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive at the Screening phase, more hair is taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most demanding methodology to execute.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection duration.
• Challenging to compromise: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, yielding more dependable results.
• Delivers historical insight: It offers a pattern of drug consumption over time, beyond just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent use detection: It takes approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug screening methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis involves the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Stippville, KS lies in its superior detection capabilities. Hair tests provide a broader and more reliable time frame for identifying substance use compared to urine tests.

Employers and courts find hair testing advantageous due to its resistance to tampering and the extended detection window it offers. Partnership with these tests ensures greater accuracy and oversight.

Extended Detection Window

In Stippville, KS, the extended detection window offered by hair follicle testing is advantageous, spanning up to 90 days. This broader window allows employers to have a more comprehensive view of substance abuse history.

By utilizing this extended time frame, companies gain insight into an employee's behavior over a significant period, aiding in more informed decision-making processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Stippville, KS is a tamper-resistant testing method. Its design reduces the risk of sample adulteration, thereby offering trustworthy and dependable results each time.

This method ensures that the samples collected maintain their integrity throughout the process, providing peace of mind to all stakeholders involved in drug testing scenarios.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of our nationwide testing centers ensures effortless access to services in Stippville, KS. Local facilities contribute to a hassle-free testing experience, facilitating quick check-ups.

Clients across the nation benefit from our extensive network, which provides both accessibility and ease of service, keeping time and location constraints to a minimum.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple, confidential process in Stippville, KS for hair follicle testing ensures privacy and ease from ordering to receiving results. Clients can trust in a discreet and straightforward procedure.

Maintaining confidentiality at every testing stage is vital, ensuring all data remains secure and presented with respect for personal privacy concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

We offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround for hair testing in Stippville, KS. This blend of competitive prices and rapid results ensures excellent value for organizations of various sizes.

Our commitment to economical pricing encourages widespread accessibility, making our testing services a practical choice from small businesses to large enterprises.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Stippville, KS, hair follicle drug tests are known for providing fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests detect substance use with remarkable precision and efficiency
assuring users of their effectiveness.

Thanks to their high accuracy, hair follicle tests have become an essential tool in identifying drug use quickly. As a result, turnarounds in reporting are swift, allowing for timely interventions
when necessary.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle testing ensures compliance and peace of mind for employers in Stippville, KS. It supports drug-free policies, minimizes legal concerns, and bolsters workplace safety.

Employers benefit from the added security that comes with using this reliable testing method, knowing their environment adheres to lawful standards and regulations.

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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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