Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Benham, KY

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can offer a prolonged review of alcohol and other substances by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of a maturing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair may offer up to roughly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, moderately challenging to alter, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample containing around 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is considered the ideal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG add-ons or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. We suggest measuring the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable volume of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair signifies all additional hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in laboratory processing of a drug testing result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning constitutes the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory’s system. This includes checking that the sample is sealed and sent properly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any extra data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Though Screening is an economical method to exclude drug consumption on most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening will require further verification.

If a sample exhibits a presumptive positive result in the Screening stage, more hair is taken from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are gleaned from the hair at a much lower concentration than other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening represents the most challenging methodology to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed 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 trace drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter window.
• Challenge to adulterate: It is exceptionally challenging to deceive a hair drug test, ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers historical insights: It can present a pattern of drug usage over a timeline, not solely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot pinpoint recent usage: It requires roughly 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are usually pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Even though often termed "hair follicle tests", the examination itself evaluates the hair strand instead of the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When it comes to drug testing in Benham, KY, hair follicle testing triumphs over traditional urine tests. One clear benefit is its superior detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, hair samples can reveal drug use over a considerably longer period, augmenting reliability. This approach serves to give a significantly more comprehensive overview of substance use, making it invaluable for employers seeking comprehensive screening methods.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Benham, KY, find hair follicle testing advantageous due to its extended detection window. Unlike other tests, it can trace substance use for up to 90 days, offering a detailed history of an individual’s habits. This long detection period provides a significant edge over shorter-term methods, allowing businesses to make informed decisions based on comprehensive data.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Benham, KY, hair follicle testing is revered for its tamper-resistant nature. This method dramatically reduces the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring the integrity and reliability of results. As a result, businesses and organizations can trust in the often indisputable findings, contributing to a safer and more trustworthy workplace environment.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible nationwide, our testing centers, including those in Benham, KY, offer convenient services. With widespread locations, hair follicle drug tests are effortlessly available, reducing the stress and hassle often associated with arranging such assessments. Prompt and straightforward access ensures a seamless experience for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Benham, KY, the process of hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. Ordering, undergoing the test, and receiving results is a hassle-free experience designed to safeguard client privacy. This approach minimizes concerns about privacy and complexity, ensuring a seamless and secure journey from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Benham, KY, represents affordability at its best. Offering excellent value without compromising on quality or speed, it caters to businesses of all sizes. This alignment of cost-effectiveness and prompt service ensures profound satisfaction in all drug screening efforts.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Benham, KY, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its speed and accuracy. These tests boast exceptional precision, detecting even minimal traces of substances, providing rapid results to all clients swiftly and efficiently. Employers and individuals benefit from the test's reliable outcomes, ensuring informed decisions and enhancing overall confidence in the process.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Benham, KY, utilizing hair follicle tests brings peace of mind and ensures compliance with stringent drug-free policies. This method supports a safer workplace by reducing potential legal risks and emphasizing safety standards. By choosing hair testing, businesses demonstrate a strong commitment to maintaining a responsible and secure work 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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