Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Simpsonville, KY

What it is, How it works

Hair analyses have become recognized as an effective method for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair holds an archival record of alcohol and substances by incorporating biomarkers into the strands' structure. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, not easily compromised, and straightforward for transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hairs (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or exams exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It is advised to measure the sample on a jeweler’s balance. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we exclusively mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, armpit, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory handling of a substance test result includes four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample in a lab's framework. This comprises validating the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any further data entry lacked by an electronic custody protocol.

Screening is an introductory rapid assessment for substance abuse. While Screening provides an economical method to eliminate substance use in most samples, any positive screen requires verification to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples that appear positive in Screening need a further confirmation.

In cases where a sample tests positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the primary sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis the most challenging technique to execute.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Samples appearing positive are cleansed prior to verification as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Verification is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 standard certification.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug analyses can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine analyses have a shorter detection span.
• High deterrence of cheating: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals a timeline of drug consumption, not just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Inadequate for recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for substances to become evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug evaluations typically incur more cost than alternate testing methods.
• Result variations: Traits like hair color and personal growth differences may impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Even though often termed "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair shaft and not the follicle under the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Simpsonville, KY demonstrates clear advantages.
Hair testing surpasses urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike traditional methods, hair tests cover a more extended period, provide observed collection, and are much harder to tamper with, ensuring trustworthy outcomes.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Simpsonville, KY offers a notable benefit.
Hair follicle testing detects substance use over a lengthy span, up to 90 days. This extended window grants employers a comprehensive understanding of a candidate’s or employee’s substance use history, helping make informed management decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Simpsonville, KY underscores reduced risks.
Hair follicle tests minimize the possibility of sample tampering significantly. Their design ensures dependable, unquestionable results, promoting a higher level of trust in the testing process for all involved parties.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Simpsonville, KY emphasize access.
With testing centers available nationwide, alongside local options, accessing testing services becomes a streamlined, hassle-free process. This accessibility ensures quick, easy testing for all individuals and companies involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Simpsonville, KY addresses privacy concerns.
Our process for ordering, conducting, and retrieving results is straightforward and discreet. It ensures user privacy while maintaining ease of use, meeting the confidentiality needs of all participants.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Simpsonville, KY ensure value.
Our competitive pricing models and quick processing times position us as a cost-effective choice for businesses of all sizes, providing peace of mind through affordable, rapid testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Simpsonville, KY highlight the swift nature of hair follicle tests.
These tests are renowned for their high precision in detecting substances, offering thorough insights into an individual’s drug history. Their reliability ensures both employers and individuals receive prompt, precise results, reinforcing their trust in hair follicle testing.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Simpsonville, KY are paramount.
Using hair follicle tests ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal liabilities. This approach not only guarantees safety but also boosts confidence among stakeholders in maintaining a compliant 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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