Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cunningham, KY

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and other drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate three-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample size of 1.5 inches comprising about 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or more than 10-panel tests, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not present, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test result consists of four crucial stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into the lab's system. This includes confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial rapid examination for substances of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug use on most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal admission. Any samples with presumptive positives in Screening require further confirmation.

If a specimen is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which contributes to the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before Confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as required. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug assessments can trace drug usage for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Provides chronological data: It reveals a drug use pattern over a duration, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent consumption: It necessitates around 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments generally incur more costs than alternative testing methods.
• Result discrepancies: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Despite being often called "hair follicle tests", the assessment examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Cunningham, KY
Hair testing offers superior benefits over traditional urine tests due to its extended detection window and increased accuracy. Employers in Cunningham can rely on hair tests for a more comprehensive assessment, enhancing policy compliance and decreasing potential liabilities associated with drug use in the workplace.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Cunningham, KY
Hair follicle testing excels as it reveals drug usage up to 90 days back, providing employers with a detailed view of an employee's substance history. This longer detection period is invaluable for making informed hiring decisions, ensuring workplace safety and upholding integrity in professional settings.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Cunningham, KY
Hair follicle tests minimize the likelihood of adulteration or manipulation, offering trustworthy results. This resiliency to tampering ensures outcomes reflect true substance use history, protecting employers from fraudulent activities and sustaining a transparent work environment.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Cunningham, KY
With an extensive network of testing centers, accessing our services remains straightforward and efficient. Our wide-spanning nationwide presence guarantees quick and easy access to drug testing, alleviating logistical challenges and simplifying the testing process for all involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Cunningham, KY
The process for hair follicle testing is both straightforward and private, from ordering to processing and receiving results. This simplicity assures those concerned with discretion have a seamless experience while maintaining the confidentiality expected in personal testing scenarios.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Cunningham, KY
Our competitive pricing paired with rapid turnaround times delivers great value for businesses of any size. With affordable options and prompt delivery of results, we provide peace of mind and efficiency in addressing your drug testing requirements.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Cunningham, KY
Harness the precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests for high accuracy in substance detection. With reliable and swift results, these tests are ideal for those seeking dependable outcomes in a timely manner. Ensure you're getting the correct information with a method trusted for its efficacy and promptness.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Cunningham, KY
Implementing hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, diminishing legal risks and enhancing security. Employers gain peace of mind knowing that their work environment remains safe and legally sound while supporting the well-being of their workforce.

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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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