Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Summer Shade, KY

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. As hair grows, it captures biomarkers within its strands, offering an extended timeline of substance usage. When hair is sampled close to the scalp, it can reveal a retrospective consumption period of approximately three months for alcohol and other drugs. The collection process for hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and easily transportable.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches in length with roughly 200 hairs (comparable in thickness to a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields around 100mg, which is the preferred quantity for drug testing and confirmation. For tests detecting EtG or exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample is suggested. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair is acceptable. References to head hair pertain specifically to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing drug test samples includes four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of initially integrating a sample into the laboratory’s database. This step includes ensuring the sample’s seal and shipment integrity, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any requisite data entry not already covered by an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening serves as a preliminary evaluation for potential drug presence. Though Screening is a cost-efficient method to detect drug use in most samples, a positive finding must undergo confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptively positive samples require subsequent verification.

Should a sample show presumptive positives during Screening, an additional portion of hair from the original specimen undergoes preparation for Extraction. This stage involves isolating drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods such as urine or oral fluid, affirming the complexity of hair-based drug detection.

Positive screening outcomes require Confirmation through techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to Confirmation, any samples with presumptive positives are cleaned as necessary. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify substance use over a span of up to 90 days, unlike the shorter detection window of urine testing.
• Cheating deterrent: The accuracy of hair drug testing is high due to the difficulty in tampering with the results.
• Historical usage insights: It provides an overview of drug use patterns over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to indicate recent usage: Detecting drugs in hair typically requires 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair tests generally cost more than other methods.
• Result variability: Differences in hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis pertains to the hair strand rather than the follicle itself under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In comparing hair follicle testing with traditional urine tests in Summer Shade, KY, the benefits are clear. Hair testing boasts superior detection accuracy and reliability, detecting substances long after ingestion where urine tests might fail. Employers gain valuable insight into an individual's substance history.
Advantages of Hair Testing:

• Extended detection window
• Reduced tampering risk

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Summer Shade, KY, offers an extended detection window that captures drug use over a 90-day period.
Why is this important?

• Employers receive a more comprehensive understanding of an individual’s drug use history.
• This longer detection window surpasses traditional testing methods, ensuring a thorough evaluation.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One significant advantage of hair follicle testing in Summer Shade, KY, is its tamper-resistant nature.
This testing method helps reduce the risk of sample adulteration, leading to more reliable and unquestionable results.

• Ensuring that the integrity of the test is maintained throughout the process.
• Providing both companies and individuals with confidence in the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient nationwide testing centers, including local sites in Summer Shade, KY.

• Quick access to testing services without the need for extensive travel.
• Streamlined processes to ensure a hassle-free testing experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Summer Shade, KY, is straightforward and confidential, from ordering to receiving results.
Steps Involved:

• Order your test online or by phone.
• Visit a local testing center for sample collection.
• Receive results securely and privately.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing services in Summer Shade, KY, are not only fast but also competitively priced.
Employers of all sizes can benefit from affordable pricing structures without compromising on the quality and speed of service.

• Competitive rates make testing accessible to more businesses.
• Rapid turnaround times help streamline the hiring process or ongoing monitoring efforts.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Summer Shade, KY, provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. Unlike other methods, these tests are renowned for their high accuracy in detecting substance use, ensuring employers and individuals receive dependable insights.
This testing method swiftly delivers results, allowing for efficient management of workplace safety and individual responsibilities.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Summer Shade, KY, can ensure compliance with workplace drug-free policies and enhance workplace safety.
The benefits include:

• Reduction in legal risks for employers.
• Peace of mind with a more secure and vigilant workforce.

Drug Testing Near Summer Shade, KY

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Mount Hermon, KY

Edmonton, KY

Mount Herman, KY

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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