Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ford City, CA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair preserves a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When extracted nearby the scalp, hair can offer up to a 3-month period to detect alcohol and drugs. Hair samples are straightforward to obtain, tough to tamper with, and simple to mail.

A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (about the circumference of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will equate to 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample. If scalp hair cannot be collected, an equal quantity of body hair is an alternative. When discussing head hair, we are specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses any other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four main tasks involved in the laboratory analysis of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning concerns the initial integration of a sample into a lab's framework. This covers confirming the sample's seal and correct shipment, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any extra data input not included by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes a preliminary fast assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples that show presumptive positivity in Screening mandate a secondary verification.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is obtained from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at substantially lower concentrations than in alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making hair drug analysis the toughest method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are washed before confirmation if necessary. The full laboratory workflow from Accessioning through Confirmation is vetted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Expanded detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which possess a brief detection timeframe.
• Challenges in test manipulation: Manipulating hair drug tests is extremely challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Presents historical usage data: It can indicate a trend of drug usage over time, beyond merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent usage: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally on the pricier side compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth discrepancies can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: While commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Ford City, CA is evident through its superior advantages. Benefits include:

• Longer detection period, capturing drug use history beyond the typical reach of urine tests.
• Higher accuracy and consistency in results.

These benefits make hair follicle testing a reliable choice for a comprehensive understanding of drug use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing offers an Extended Detection Window in Ford City, CA, reaching up to 90 days which surpasses the limited timeframe of other tests, giving a fuller picture of substance use history.

This extensive detection is invaluable for employers, providing clarity and security regarding an individual's drug use timeline.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Our testing process is a Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Ford City, CA, which minimizes risk of sample tampering, ensuring trustworthy outcomes.

Such reliability in hair follicle testing supports valid results, maintaining integrity and trust for stakeholders requiring drug testing services.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Ford City, CA offer accessibility to all, facilitating prompt and stress-free drug testing processes.

Our extensive network ensures testing can be effortlessly integrated into any routine, streamlining responsibilities.

Simple, Confidential Process

Experience a Simple, Confidential Process in Ford City, CA for administering hair follicle testing. We prioritize confidentiality and ease from start to finish, ensuring privacy for all parties involved.

Our straightforward system enhances the testing experience, promoting user satisfaction and comfort.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Ford City, CA, we offer cost-effective solutions without sacrificing quality or turnaround speed, making it attractive for businesses of diverse sizes to obtain reliable tests.

Companies can utilize these affordable services to maintain a drug-free workplace efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate and Reliable Results in Ford City, CA are made possible by our hair follicle testing methods, yielding precise readings with rapid result delivery, ensuring timely decision-making.

Hair follicle tests boast high accuracy, effectively detecting various substances, surpassing that of other traditional tests in both speed and reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers is achieved through hair follicle testing in Ford City, CA. Upholding drug-free policies within workplaces, it mitigates employment-related liabilities.

The implementation of thorough testing strategies boosts safety and alignment with compliance standards.

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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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