Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Owingsville, KY

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying substance use. By capturing biomarkers within the hair fiber, hair records long-term exposure to alcohol and drugs. Collected from the scalp close to the roots, hair offers a detection scope of up to around three months for alcohol and substances. It’s straightforward to obtain, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A hair segment of 1.5 inches containing approximately 200 strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) cut near the scalp yields about 100mg, the standard quantity necessary for both testing and confirmation. For screens involving EtG, additional analytes, and tests exceeding ten panels, a sample of 150mg is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair is acceptable. When mentioning head hair, the reference is only to scalp hair. Body hair includes all remaining hair types (facial, armpits, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal stages in the lab processing for drug testing include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the initial sample entry into the lab's infrastructure. This stage checks that the specimen was sealed and transported correctly, assigns a unique Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and performs any needed data inputs absent in an electronic custody system.

Screening performs an initial assessment for substances. It is a budget-friendly method to exclude drug presence in most samples, but a court-accepted finding calls for confirmation post-positive screening. Any samples flagged as potentially positive in Screening need subsequent verification.

Should a sample test likely positive during Screening, additional hair from the original sample is set aside for Extraction. Here, drug components are withdrawn from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluids), which is why hair analysis is notably complex.

Verification of any positive findings from screening utilizes GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All potential positive samples undergo cleaning before confirmation as required. The entire course from Accessioning to final Confirmation is independently reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation norms.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair tests can signal drug consumption up to 90 days before, outlasting the detection period of urine tests.
• Hard to falsify: Manipulating hair drug test outcomes is challenging, leading to increased reliability.
• Shows usage history: Provides a timeline of substance consumption rather than just indicating recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent intake: It generally takes 5-7 days post-consumption for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expenses: Hair analysis is typically costlier than other methods of drug testing.
• Result variability: Differences like hair color and personal hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair samples.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the procedure analyzes strands of hair and does not assess the follicle embedded beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Owingsville, KY

Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing is superior in detecting a wider range of substances with greater precision and success. In Owingsville, employers favor hair testing for its extended detection window and resistance to tampering. It offers more dependable results, enhancing workplace safety by ensuring individuals are thoroughly screened for substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Owingsville, KY

Hair follicle testing excels with its ability to trace drug use over longer periods, often up to 90 days. In Owingsville, this leads to more comprehensive evaluations of employees or applicants. Employers gain a detailed view of an individual's substance history, allowing for more informed and responsible hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Owingsville, KY

Hair follicle testing significantly mitigates the risk of sample tampering, delivering reliable and indisputable results. In Owingsville, these tests ensure the accuracy and integrity of drug screening processes. This robust testing method provides confidence that results are not only accurate but also resistant to manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Owingsville, KY

With numerous testing centers nationwide and locally in Owingsville, accessing our hair follicle testing services is effortless. This network ensures quick and seamless testing experiences for individuals and employers, eliminating hassles and delays, and providing easy access to necessary services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Owingsville, KY

Our process for hair follicle drug testing in Owingsville is straightforward and discreet. From ordering to the delivery of results, each step prioritizes your privacy and ease of use. This efficient and respectful approach alleviates concerns surrounding confidentiality and makes the testing experience stress-free.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Owingsville, KY

In Owingsville, we offer competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times for hair follicle drug tests. This combination of affordability and efficiency provides exceptional value, ensuring companies of every size benefit from swift and precise drug testing without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Owingsville, KY

Hair follicle drug tests deliver rapid and precise results, ensuring accurate detection of substance use. Their ability to provide fast outcomes while maintaining high standards of accuracy makes them a top choice for reliable testing in Owingsville. With these tests, you can trust the results to reflect substance use accurately, giving employers critical data efficiently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Owingsville, KY

Employers in Owingsville find peace of mind through hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free policies. This compliance reduces legal liabilities while bolstering workplace safety. By choosing hair testing, organizations exemplify their commitment to a safe and lawful 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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