Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Green Valley, CA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a potent means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. This method offers a prolonged history by capturing biomarkers within the hair's fibers. When sampled near the scalp, hair can reflect alcohol and drug use for a period of up to 3 months. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. It is suggested to measure the specimen with a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equal measurement of body hair can be gathered. "Head hair" specifically refers to the scalp, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

During Accessioning, a sample is integrated into a laboratory’s system. This step ensures that the sample’s seal and shipment were intact, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes further data entry outside an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs an initial, rapid drug check. Screening is cost-efficient for excluding drug use in the majority of samples, but a positive result demands confirmation for legal acceptability. Presumptive positives from Screening mandate additional confirmation.

Presumptive positives in Screening lead to further sample collection for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower levels than other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug screening the most challenging to execute.

Confirmation of positive screenings uses GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation if needed. The overall process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation review and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use for up to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests’ shorter detection span.
• Difficult to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, ensuring more reliable results.
• Shows historical use: It outlines a timeline of drug use over several weeks, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair only after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other methods.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentration in hair can be influenced by hair color and individual hair growth differences.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests," this analysis assesses the hair strand, not the follicle itself under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair testing significantly outperforms urine testing in Green Valley, CA. Hair follicle tests provide superior detection, capturing a broader spectrum of substance use with unparalleled accuracy.

Unlike urine tests, which offer a limited window of detection, hair testing can reveal drug use over an extended period.

The reliability of hair testing makes it the preferred choice for employers seeking stringent drug policies.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Green Valley, CA offers an extended detection window for substance use—up to 90 days, compared to urine testing.

This comprehensive timeline allows employers to assess a candidate’s historical substance behavior thoroughly.

Such a detailed view assists in creating a more informed, responsible, and safe work environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Green Valley, CA, drastically reduces sample adulteration risks.

This reliable method provides unquestionable results, crucial for maintaining integrity in drug testing.

Employers rely on this secure process to ensure accurate reflections of an individual's substance use history, fostering trust in results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing centers, Accredited Drug Testing offers accessible and efficient services to Green Valley, CA residents.

This expansive network ensures quick and hassle-free access to hair follicle testing facilities.

Local and easy-to-reach locations eliminate the logistical challenges of finding testing sites, streamlining the testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Green Valley, CA, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential, protecting privacy while ensuring ease of use.

From ordering to receiving results, each step prioritizes discretion and user-friendliness.

This straightforward approach addresses potential concerns, ensuring a smooth and private testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable pricing and swift turnaround for hair follicle testing in Green Valley, CA.

Competitive pricing structures deliver excellent value, accommodating companies of all sizes.

Rapid processing times ensure minimal delays, providing companies with timely, actionable information.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Green Valley, CA, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate detection of substances. The precision of hair testing ensures reliable results for both recent and historical substance use.

Employers benefit from prompt, dependable data, providing critical insights into an individual’s long-term substance habits.

Efficient processing guarantees quick turnaround times, easing decision-making processes related to substance use assessment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Green Valley, CA can achieve compliance with workplace drug-free policies through hair follicle testing.

Using hair tests helps minimize legal risks associated with workplace substance use and bolsters workplace safety.

Such testing provides peace of mind, ensuring that companies maintain adherence to strict drug policies with confidence.

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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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