Hair Follicle Drug Testing - City Terrace, CA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective approach to detect drug and alcohol use. Hair serves as a long-term record of alcohol and other drug exposure by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer up to a roughly 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment containing about 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for evaluation and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. In reference to head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps involved in laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial stage of integrating a sample into a laboratory’s system. This process ensures the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While Screening serves as a cost-effective method to exclude drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for it to hold up in court. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a considerably lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to deceive: It is exceedingly challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, providing more accurate outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of drug consumption over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier compared to other drug testing methods.
• Variability in results: Elements such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although referred to as "hair follicle tests," the test analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In City Terrace, CA, hair follicle testing outshines urine testing with superior accuracy and reliability in drug detection. Hair tests offer a broader detection window, covering up to 90 days of drug use history. This extensive reach is a significant advantage over urine tests, making hair tests a preferred choice for employers, courts, and professionals prioritizing accurate results.

Extended Detection Window

City Terrace, CA hair follice testing stands out for its extended detection window, capable of covering up to 90 days. This allows companies to assess an individual's substance use history effectively. With longer coverage than urine tests, it offers a deeper insight into an individual's habits, making it advantageous for comprehensive evaluations.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

By significantly lowering the chances of sample tampering, hair follicle tests in City Terrace, CA guarantee accuracy. Unlike other methods, hair testing offers reliable results by utilizing tamper-resistant procedures. This approach minimizes opportunities for sample adulteration, ensuring credible and unquestionable results each time.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key, and our nationwide and local City Terrace, CA testing facilities ensure you have quick and easy access to essential services. With numerous testing centers, navigating drug test requirements becomes hassle-free, allowing for efficient service delivery whenever you need it.

Simple, Confidential Process

In City Terrace, CA, our hair follicle testing process is designed for simplicity and confidentiality. Clients enjoy an uncomplicated procedure from ordering to results. This discreet approach ensures privacy remains intact while maintaining ease of access and swift processing from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, our services in City Terrace, CA provide excellent value for companies of any size. Hair follicle testing offers affordability without compromising on speed and reliability. We ensure companies achieve peace of mind with our cost-effective solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in City Terrace, CA provide quick, accurate results due to their ability to trace substances longer than other methods. Their precision in detecting drug use ensures reliable assessments, making them a trusted choice for various institutions. The process not only delivers results fast but also assures accuracy unmatched by many alternatives.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers utilizing hair follicle tests in City Terrace, CA can ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method reduces legal risks while enhancing safety standards, delivering peace of mind for employers. Consistent compliance with regulations fosters a secure and drug-free 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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