Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Davis, CA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective means for detecting substance and alcohol consumption. The hair captures markers in its strands, providing a prolonged record of drug and alcohol use. When taken near the scalp, hair offers about a 3-month window of detection for substances and alcohol. This method is easy to execute, resistant to tampering, and uncomplicated to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (similar to a #2 pencil's thickness) near the scalp yields 100mg, optimal for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a quantity of 150mg is advised. It's suggested to employ a jeweler’s scale for precise weighing. If scalp hair isn't available, a corresponding amount of body hair may be used. 'Head hair' refers specifically to scalp hair, while 'body hair' encompasses all other categories (like facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning deals with the sample's preliminary handling within a lab's system. This step checks that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performs any additional data recording that an electronic chain of custody may lack.

Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for substance abuse. While cost-effective in clearing most samples, positive screens require confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples with presumptive positive results in Screening need further confirmation.

A sample that shows a presumptive positive result during Screening undergoes further hair extraction from the starting specimen for the Extraction phase. In this step, substances are isolated from hair at a much lesser concentration than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug testing notably challenging.

To verify any positive screening outcome, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques are employed for Confirmation. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as necessary. The complete laboratory pathway from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection range: Hair drug analysis can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a more limited detection duration.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, which enhances accuracy.
• Reveals historical usage: It offers a pattern of drug consumption over a period, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Delayed detection of recent use: Substances take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug analysis tends to be costlier than other drug testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and unique hair growth patterns can influence the metabolites' concentration in the hair.

Note: Although often named "hair follicle tests", the examination actually evaluates the hair strand, not the root beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair Testing Advantages make it the superior choice over traditional urine tests in Davis. Not only do hair tests offer a wider detection window, but they also provide more thorough drug use insights.

Employers in Davis benefit significantly from hair tests, which offer greater accuracy and are less prone to tampering compared to urine testing, enhancing the reliability of results.

Extended Detection Window

The Extended Detection Window of up to 90 days in hair follicle testing gives a more comprehensive look at someone’s substance use history in Davis, CA. This superior tracking is essential for thorough evaluations.

Employers gain insights into up to three months' worth of substance use with hair follicle testing, providing a more expansive understanding of an individual’s history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Davis, CA, stand out for their tamper-resistant qualities. The method significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring trustworthy and precise results.

Reliable results are crucial, which is why choosing hair testing assures quality findings that cannot be easily compromised, reducing doubts about sample manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

One of the standout benefits of choosing hair follicle testing with us is the convenience of nationwide locations, including those in Davis, CA. Quick, easy access to testing services provides hassle-free solutions.

With centers spread across the country, you’re assured of swift testing procedures that cater to both local and national needs, ensuring efficient service delivery.

Simple, Confidential Process

We prioritize a simple and confidential process for hair follicle testing in Davis, CA. From ordering to receiving results, the process is designed to respect privacy and be user-friendly.

Addressing confidentiality concerns, our system ensures each step, from test-taking to results, is smooth, reflecting a commitment to privacy and effortless navigation.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing structures in Davis, CA, our hair follicle tests deliver excellent value. The rapid turnaround times ensure companies benefit from both savings and efficiency.

With competitive pricing and short wait times, our service remains accessible to businesses of all sizes, providing financial peace of mind through cost-effective solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Speed and Accuracy are key when it comes to detecting substance use, and in Davis, CA, hair follicle drug testing offers both in abundance. The precision of hair testing ensures accurate results every time.

Hair follicle tests provide highly reliable analytics for substance detection, giving stakeholders confidence in their findings. The result is fast evaluation, drawing from a broader detection range.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Davis, CA, using hair follicle tests means peace of mind. Ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies helps mitigate legal risks and foster a safer work environment.

Adopting hair follicle testing systems not only brings confidence in compliance but also strengthens the commitment to maintain a drug-free workplace.

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University of California Davis, CA

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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