Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Myers, KY

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a robust method for detecting alcohol and drug presence. Hair offers an extended chronology of substance use by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair strand's structure. When harvested near the scalp, hair samples furnish an approximately 3-month detection timeframe for substance usage. The collection process is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.

Collecting a sample of 1.5 inches comprising about 200 hair strands (approximate thickness of a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for specimen preparation. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair can be utilized. The term "head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses other types, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory drug testing process consists of four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the phase where a sample is first entered into a laboratory's system. This step ensures proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial, cost-effective assessment for drug presence, suitable for the majority of samples. However, a positive screen requires confirmation to be legally valid. Samples with presumptive positive results in Screening need further verification.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample for the Extraction stage, where drugs are isolated at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of positive screenings is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positive samples are cleansed pre-confirmation as necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug consumption for as long as 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to falsify: Evading a hair drug test is notably difficult, leading to increased result accuracy.
• Captures usage history: Hair testing can reveal usage patterns over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be more costly compared to alternative methods.
• Result variations: Differences in hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair samples.

Note: Although sometimes called "hair follicle tests," the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Triumphs in Myers, KY
In Myers, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in terms of detecting drug use with greater precision and reliability. Employers benefit from the broadened detection period, ensuring a thorough background check on prospective or current employees. Hair tests decisively deter attempts to tamper with the results, offering a trustworthy alternative to older methods.

Extended Detection Window

Long-Term Insight with Extended Detection Window in Myers, KY
Hair follicle testing offers an expansive detection window, reaching up to 90 days, pivotal for providing employers a more detailed picture of an individual's substance use history. This capability allows for comprehensive evaluations beyond what shorter-term testing methods can offer, promoting informed decision-making in employment scenarios.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Dependable Tamper-Resistant Method in Myers, KY
The risk of tampering is substantially reduced with hair follicle tests, ensuring that the results remain reliable and credible. Individuals seeking to manipulate outcomes face a formidable challenge, thus preserving the integrity of the testing process and safeguarding against fraudulent practices.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Nationwide and Local Testing in Myers, KY
Our network of testing centers spans nationwide, offering unparalleled convenience. Located locally in Myers, KY, we provide easy access to stress-free testing services, allowing clients to engage in our offerings without the hassle of extended traveling or complex scheduling.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplified and Confidential Testing Process in Myers, KY
Our hair testing methodology in Myers is designed for simplicity and confidentiality, catering to privacy concerns and ease of use. Clients can seamlessly order, take, and receive test results, with a process that's streamlined to meet personal and professional expectations.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing with Rapid Turnaround in Myers, KY
We deliver value through competitive pricing and fast service times. Businesses of all sizes in Myers can access our high-quality testing services at reasonable rates, ensuring that budgetary constraints do not compromise the need for thorough and efficient drug screening.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Reliable Results at Your Fingertips in Myers, KY
Utilizing hair follicle testing guarantees swift and dependable outcomes, crucial for detecting substance use with high accuracy. In Myers, our specialized method ensures that both employers and individuals receive comprehensive and precise evaluations, minimizing the wait time typically associated with other types of testing.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Achieving Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Myers, KY
Through the use of hair follicle testing, employers can confidently maintain compliance with drug-free policies, reducing legal liabilities and bolstering safety in the workplace. This method provides assurance that the drug testing process aligns with regulatory requirements, effectively enhancing the 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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