Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kansas, OH

What it is, How it works

Hair tests have emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can capture a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by storing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer almost a 3-month detection span for drugs and alcohol. Hair is effortless to collect, hard to tamper with, and uncomplicated to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches containing about 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in size) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. It's suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not present, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. Referring to head hair indicates scalp hair specifically. Body hair includes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key steps in the lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first stage where a sample is processed into the lab’s system. It entails ensuring the sample is sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any extra data not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. While it is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for court acceptance. Any samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

If a positive result emerges during the Screening, extra hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted at a lower concentration in hair compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter period.
• Difficulty in evasion: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, thus ensuring more accurate outcomes.
• Historical information: It provides a usage pattern of drugs over a time span, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Variability in outcomes: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Commonly dubbed as "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Kansas, OH

Hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine assessments through its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Its extended detection window offers a clearer picture of substance history, proving especially beneficial for workplace compliance. Comparing the two, hair analysis is less intrusive and harder to adulterate.

While urine tests may identify recent drug use, hair tests unveil a much broader timeframe, proving invaluable to employers and legal entities seeking comprehensive substance history details.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Kansas, OH

Hair follicle testing stands out with its 90-day detection span, offering comprehensive data on an individual’s drug history. This extended window empowers employers to thoroughly assess applicants, enhancing workplace safety and reliability. This foresight is a major advantage over shorter-term detection methods.

Providing a deeper dive into substance use history, hair testing equips organizations with essential insights, promoting informed hiring and management decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Kansas, OH

The integrity of hair follicle testing lies in its robust design against tampering. Unlike other testing forms, hair analysis diminishes the chance of sample adulteration, producing reliable and irrefutable results. This security ensures confidence in the findings, making it ideal for maintaining strict drug-free environments.

Employers benefit from the resistance to manipulation, safeguarding both employees and the organization from fraudulent testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Kansas, OH

Our nationwide network of testing centers affords unmatched convenience, ensuring timely and stress-free access to services. Be it local or national, Accredited Drug Testing’s reach guarantees swift testing availability across numerous locations.

Employers and individuals in Kansas, OH, can appreciate the vast accessibility of our services, simplifying their drug testing needs efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Kansas, OH

Experience an easy and discreet process from ordering to receiving your hair test results. We prioritize privacy, ensuring our clients’ concerns are addressed smoothly and confidentially. Our well-structured procedure removes complexities, offering a seamless experience.

Whether you're an individual or an employer seeking testing, our commitment to confidentiality and ease stands at the forefront.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Kansas, OH

Our competitive pricing and rapid result delivery offer outstanding value to businesses of any size. Accredited Drug Testing prides itself on maintaining cost-effectiveness without sacrificing the quality of our services, ensuring you receive results with promptness and precision.

Our dedication to affordability ensures that drug testing remains accessible, supporting companies in upholding drug-free environments efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Kansas, OH

Emphasizing precision and swiftness, hair follicle drug testing offers unparalleled accuracy in identifying substance use. This testing method quickly presents trustworthy results, ensuring peace of mind and informed decision-making for both individuals and organizations.

The hair diagnostic process is renowned for its reliability, catching drug use with incredible accuracy over months, unlike any other testing form. This efficiency, coupled with its speed, sets it apart.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Kansas, OH

Utilizing hair follicle testing aids employers in upholding drug-free policies with confidence, reducing legal risks while enhancing workplace safety. The method’s thoroughness ensures that employees adhere to company standards, providing peace of mind to both management and staff.

This form of testing supports a secure and productive work environment by mitigating the risks associated with substance abuse.

Drug Testing Near Kansas, OH

Tiffin, OH

Fort Seneca, OH

Stony Prairie, OH

Gibsonburg, OH

Ballville, OH

Bradner, OH

Lake Seneca, OH

Fostoria, OH

Bascom, OH

Risingsun, OH

Old Fort, OH

Helena, OH

Amsden, OH

Bettsville, OH

Burgoon, OH

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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