Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kidder, MO

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has grown as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken close to the scalp, hair can offer up to about a 3-month detection period for alcohol and substances. Hair is easy to collect, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to ship.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, containing around 200 strands of hair (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests surpassing 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It is suggested to weigh the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we solely refer to scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab's system. This step includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening refers to an initial swift check for drugs of abuse. While Screening provides a cost-efficient method to rule out drug usage in most samples, a positive result from the screen must be verified to be accepted in court. Any samples that are tentatively positive in Screening necessitate a follow-up verification.

In the event of a presumptive positive in the Screening stage, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are retrieved from hair at much lower levels than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug testing is the trickiest methodology to undertake.

Verification of any positive results from screening is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as needed. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests reveal drug use up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests which have a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: It is extremely difficult to rig a hair drug test, thus enhancing accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a drug use pattern over time, not solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Not for recent use detection: Drugs show in hair after roughly 5-7 days.
• Costly: Generally, hair drug tests are pricier compared to other testing approaches.
• Result variability: Differences such as hair color and individual hair growth variations can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Kidder, MO
Hair follicle tests in Kidder, MO, provide superior detection capabilities compared to urine tests. The reliability of hair testing means employers gain clearer insights into an individual's drug use history. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair analyses detect a broader range of substances over an extended period, ensuring higher accuracy and minimized chances of test manipulation.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Kidder, MO
Hair follicle testing in Kidder, MO offers an extensive detection window that can uncover substance usage for up to 90 days. This lengthy window allows employers to have a comprehensive understanding of an employee or applicant's drug history. The test captures long-term drug use patterns, thus offering valuable insights that standard testing cannot provide.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Kidder, MO
Kidder, MO leverages hair follicle tests because of their tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other drug screening methods, hair testing offers results that are virtually immune to adulteration, ensuring that employers receive accurate and reliable data. This unyielding characteristic adds an extra layer of confidence when interpreting test outcomes, making it a preferred choice.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Kidder, MO
Accessible testing centers across the country and in Kidder, MO ease the testing process for individuals. Accredited Drug Testing provides effortless access to numerous locations, ensuring that users experience minimal inconvenience and seamless service delivery. This nationwide presence translates into reduced wait times and increased service satisfaction.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Kidder, MO
In Kidder, MO, opting for hair follicle testing is straightforward and private. The process is designed to safeguard personal information while remaining user-friendly throughout. From test ordering to result retrieval, each step is constructed to ensure confidentiality and simplicity, reassuring users of privacy at each stage of the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Kidder, MO
Kidder, MO benefits from competitive hair follicle testing rates, providing excellent value. The quick turnaround time ensures that companies not only receive cost-effective testing solutions but also swift results, supporting prompt decision-making. This pricing structure accommodates businesses of all sizes, enhancing overall satisfaction and efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Kidder, MO
Hair follicle testing stands out in Kidder, MO for its precision in detecting substance use. The accuracy of such tests ensures that results are both reliable and detailed, providing a true reflection of an individual's history over time. This methodology not only confirms drug presence but does so swiftly, offering results that are dependable and timely for decision-making purposes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Kidder, MO
By adopting hair follicle testing, Kidder, MO employers ensure compliance with workplace drug policies. This method reduces legal liabilities while enhancing workplace safety. Employers benefit from the peace of mind that their drug testing procedures meet the highest standards, supporting a secure and drug-free environment for all employees.

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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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