Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sardis, KY

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is widely recognized as a potent method for detecting alcohol and drug use. By embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the growing strand, hair offers a comprehensive long-term record of substance consumption. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal usage up to around a 3-month period for alcohol as well as other drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to adulterate, and convenient to send.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the best sample amount for screening and corroboration. For EtG enhancements, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to obtain 150mg of the specimen. It is suggested to weigh the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not obtainable, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. The term head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory handling of drug test results involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning represents the initial entry of a sample into the laboratory's system, including verifying the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any associated data input not included in an electronic chain of custody record.

Screening performs a quick assessment for substances of abuse. It serves as a cost-efficient means to exclude drug use in most samples. However, a positive screen must be substantiated for it to hold up in court. Any Screening presumptives must proceed to further validation.

In cases where the Screening process renders a sample presumptively positive, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and gets ready for Extraction. Herein, drugs are extracted at significantly lower concentrations compared to alternative methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug screening is notably challenging.

Confirmation of any positive screen results is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples marked as presumptive positives are washed prior to confirmation as warranted. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a narrower period of detection.
• Challenging to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is quite difficult, thus ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals a usage pattern over a span of time, unlike other methods which capture only recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: Drugs need about 5-7 days to be present in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be costlier than alternative methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence the drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis pertains to the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Sardis, KY, hair follicle testing often outshines traditional urine testing. Its superior detection range ensures a broader overview of substance use, making it a favored option for accurate and reliable results.

The advantages of hair follicle tests over urine tests include enhanced accuracy and more comprehensive detection. This makes it an excellent choice for those aiming to ensure thoroughness in substance testing.

Extended Detection Window

With the ability to identify drug use over up to 90 days, hair follicle testing provides a far-reaching overview of one’s substance history in Sardis, KY. This expansive window offers more clarity for employers and other stakeholders.

Employers in Sardis, KY appreciate hair tests for their extended detection period, offering a full picture of an individual’s substance use background over several months.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Sardis, KY, hair follicle tests are a tamper-resistant option, drastically minimizing the chances of sample adulteration. This offers organizations reliable outcomes for drug screening needs.

The distinct methodology of hair follicle testing in Sardis, KY ensures tamper-proof results, delivering integrity and confidence in the findings without the threat of manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Sardis, KY, our extensive network of nationwide testing centers ensures easy access to hair follicle testing services. This broad reach facilitates seamless testing experiences for all.

Convenience is key in Sardis, KY where our localized and nationwide centers make it effortless for clients to engage in the hair follicle testing process without hassle.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results in Sardis, KY is both simple and confidential. Privacy concerns are addressed efficiently to ensure user ease while maintaining discretion.

In Sardis, KY, hair follicle tests promise a straightforward and confidential method, ensuring individuals’ privacy is respected from start to finish for greater peace of mind.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and rapid result turnaround in Sardis, KY make hair follicle testing an affordable option for enterprises of any size, ensuring cost-efficiency alongside fast service delivery.

Providing exceptional value, the pricing strategy and delivery speed of our hair follicle tests in Sardis, KY ensure businesses receive quick results without overextending budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Sardis, KY, hair follicle drug tests are known for their speed and precision. The accuracy in capturing substance use is unmatched, allowing for quick decision-making based on reliable data. When timing matters, hair tests provide the results you need without delay.

Hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled in delivering accurate results swiftly. This methodology offers unbeatable precision in detecting a variety of substances, ensuring decisions based on these tests are informed and timely.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Sardis, KY, benefit from hair follicle testing as it aids in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies, thus mitigating legal risks and fostering a safer work environment.

Hair follicle testing serves as a cornerstone for workplace safety in Sardis, KY, helping organizations adhere to regulations and promote a drug-free culture, securing peace of mind for management and employees alike.

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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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