Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Wakefield, KS

What it is, How it works

Renowned for its effectiveness, hair testing is recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair serves as a long-term log of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the developing hair strand. When clipped near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to roughly 90 days for alcohol and drug use. The collection process for hair is straightforward, with minimal chances for tampering, and is easily transportable.

An optimal specimen for screening and confirmation is a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yielding 100mg of hair. For EtG, specialized tests, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's recommended to utilize a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is not accessible, a comparable quantity of body hair can be obtained. References to head hair specifically denote scalp hair. Alternatively, body hair includes all different types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning constitutes the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory's framework. This phase ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any supplementary data entry unprovided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial swift evaluation for drugs of concern. While Screening is an economical approach for dismissing drug consumption in the majority of cases, a positive initial test necessitates confirmation to be valid legally. Any samples testing presumptively positive in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

Specimens testing presumptively positive in the Screening phase require additional hair from the initial batch to be prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drug compounds are separated from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples indicating presumptive positivity undergo washing before confirmation if needed. From Accessioning through Confirmation, the complete laboratory process undergoes evaluation under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug intake for approximately 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection span.
• Reduced cheating probability: It is extremely challenging to falsify a hair drug test, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Reports historical data: It reveals a pattern of drug usage over an extended timeframe, not merely recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become noticeable in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair drug testing is usually pricier compared to alternative drug testing procedures.
• Outcome variability: Elements like hair color and unique hair growth patterns can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although frequently labeled as "hair follicle tests", the assessment actually evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Wakefield, KS offers significant advantages over traditional urine testing. It boasts superior accuracy and is exceptionally difficult to deceive, allowing for a more reliable assessment of drug use. Unlike urine tests, hair testing can detect a broader history of substance use, providing a clear picture of an individual's behavior.

Extended Detection Window

In Wakefield, KS, hair follicle testing offers a long detection window, monitoring drug use up to 90 days. Employers gain valuable insights into an employee or applicant's substance history, making informed decisions easier and promoting a healthier, drug-free workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The robust nature of hair follicle testing in Wakefield, KS significantly reduces tampering risks. Its method ensures that samples are collected and analyzed without contamination, offering trustworthy results that employers and authorities can count on to maintain integrity in drug testing procedures.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing boasts convenient testing locations nationwide, including in Wakefield, KS. Our network ensures that access to hair follicle testing is quick and trouble-free, allowing individuals and businesses to conduct required assessments without delay.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple, confidential protocol for hair follicle testing in Wakefield, KS eases concerns about privacy and complexity. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, the process is user-friendly, ensuring that clients feel comfortable and secure every step of the way.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround, our hair follicle testing services in Wakefield, KS deliver exceptional value. Our competitive rates and efficient processing times provide peace of mind for businesses of all sizes, ensuring they receive excellent service for their investment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Wakefield, KS are unmatched. With high accuracy, these tests effectively detect substances and provide results swiftly, making them ideal for timely decision-making. Businesses benefit from reliable results that ensure their workplace remains secure.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Wakefield, KS, can enjoy peace of mind and compliance with drug-free policies through hair follicle testing. This method reduces legal risk, upholds workplace safety, and ensures adherence to regulations, supporting a productive and successful organizational 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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