Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Webber, KS

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a strong method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug involvement by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. If collected near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection window of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample of around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for both initial screening and confirmation. For EtG add-ons or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. Measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale is suggested. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair denote scalp hair specifically, while body hair includes other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary procedures in the laboratory evaluation of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial handling of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This step includes ensuring that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any other data input not given by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be corroborated for legal acceptability. Any samples presumed positive in Screening need a subsequent confirmation.

If a sample is presumed positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptive positives are cleansed prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a brief detection window.
• Difficult to trick: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers historical insight: It can show a pattern of drug use over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: There’s an approximate 5-7 day period before drugs are traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Webber, KS, stands superior to traditional urine tests in multiple ways. With better accuracy and reliability, hair tests have become the preferred choice.

These tests offer a broader detection window and are less prone to tampering, allowing for a more trustworthy read on an individual's substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

Offering an extensive detection period, hair follicle testing in Webber, KS, provides insight into substance use up to 90 days.

This prolonged window is crucial for employers aiming to thoroughly evaluate an applicant or employee's drug history, ensuring informed decisions in the selection process.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Webber, KS, hair follicle tests are a robust deterrent against sample tampering. The method minimizes the risk of adulteration, ensuring the credibility of results.

By safeguarding against tampering, these tests deliver trustworthy outcomes, vital for making confident decisions based on accurate data.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing brings convenience to Webber, KS, with nationwide testing centers. Access to hair follicle testing is straightforward and hassle-free, enhancing ease of use.

Local centers ensure residents and businesses can quickly schedule and undergo testing, providing seamless access to essential services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Webber, KS, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step ensures privacy and ease.

This user-friendly approach addresses privacy concerns, offering reassurance through a seamless testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Webber, KS, provides great value.

Our cost-effective solutions cater to companies of all sizes, delivering peace of mind through swift results and affordable rates.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Webber, KS, offers rapid and precise results for detecting substance use. The method's high accuracy ensures that users get reliable results swiftly, preventing any hold-ups.

Not only does this type of testing yield quick outcomes, but it also guarantees the thorough detection of substances, providing an edge over other methods in both accuracy and speed.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Webber, KS, helps employers maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method reduces legal risks and enhances safety.

Using hair tests ensures adherence to regulations, providing peace of mind for employers focused on maintaining a secure and drug-free 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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