Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hills And Dales, KY

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drugs by incorporating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising about 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) located nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it refers exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results comprises these four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step where a sample is integrated into the laboratory’s database. This step includes ensuring that the sample was properly sealed and delivered, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for commonly abused drugs. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage for most samples, any positive findings must be confirmed for court acceptance. Presumptively positive samples in Screening necessitate a further confirmation.

If a sample shows presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and is prepared for the Extraction phase. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology to execute.

The Confirmation of any positive screening findings is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited 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, in contrast to urine tests, which have a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is exceedingly difficult to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides longitudinal data: It can outline a drug use pattern over a timeframe, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: It generally takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Aspects such as hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Hills and Dales, KY, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in several aspects. Currently used more frequently, it provides superior detection reliability and accuracy over extended periods. Unlike urine tests, hair testing can reveal drug use patterns over a longer window, providing a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance history.

Extended Detection Window

One of the greatest advantages of hair follicle testing in Hills and Dales, KY, is its extended detection window. This method tracks drug use over a 90-day period, offering a thorough perspective of an applicant or employee's past substance use. The comprehensive view it presents is invaluable for employers aiming for thorough background checks.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Hills and Dales, KY, provide a tamper-resistant testing method that significantly minimizes the risk of sample adulteration. This leads to results that are both reliable and beyond question, ensuring peace of mind for test administrators and organizations that rely on accurate drug testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With a broad network of testing centers, both nationwide and local, in Hills and Dales, KY, getting a hair follicle test is both quick and hassle-free. Our convenient locations ensure that accessing testing services is a seamless experience, providing individuals and entities with straightforward and efficient testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Hills and Dales, KY, our hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential. From ordering the test to obtaining results, each step prioritizes privacy and ease of use, ensuring that individuals feel secure and comfortable throughout the testing process. This streamlined approach alleviates concerns related to confidentiality and complexity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

We offer competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle tests in Hills and Dales, KY, delivering great value and assurance for companies, regardless of size. Our affordable rates ensure that businesses can maintain necessary drug testing protocols without incurring excessive costs, providing essential peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests in Hills and Dales, KY, are unparalleled. By detecting substance use with high precision, they provide fast and reliable results that are crucial for employers and institutions requiring quick assessments. Hair tests are not only rapid but also remarkably accurate, ensuring that the users have trust in the results they receive.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Hills and Dales, KY, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks while enhancing safety. This testing method offers employers peace of mind, knowing they are upholding high standards in maintaining substance-free working environments, thereby enhancing both safety and compliance.

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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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