Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Middletown, CA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized for its ability to detect drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers in the fibers, hair offers a long-term record of alcohol and drug use. Hair, collected near the scalp, provides a detection window of up to roughly three months for alcohol and other drugs. It is simple to collect, hard to adulterate, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment with about 200 hair strands (similar to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp produces 100mg, the ideal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg is suggested. It is advisable to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be utilized. When discussing head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial step of processing a sample into a lab’s system. This step verifies the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not provided through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes an initial rapid check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective strategy to eliminate drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be admissible in court. Any sample presumptively positive in Screening requires a secondary confirmation.

In the case of a presumptively positive sample during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepared for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening exceedingly challenging.

A positive screening result is confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo a wash before necessary confirmation. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can track drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is very difficult, improving result accuracy.
• Provides historical data: It supplies a pattern of drug use over an extended period, not solely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Detection of drugs in hair takes approximately 5-7 days.
• Cost: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other drug testing approaches.
• Variations in results: Variables like hair color and personal hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Middletown, CA, the advantages become clear. Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy and are more reliable, making them the preferred choice for situations demanding comprehensive substance use detection. Employers and legal systems benefit greatly from the enhanced security and dependability that hair testing provides over urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

In Middletown, CA, hair follicle testing stands out with its ability to detect drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days. This feature provides employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance history. Unlike other testing methods, the broad detection window offers a comprehensive view into an applicant or employee's past, facilitating informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Middletown, CA, provide a tamper-resistant approach to drug screening. The method significantly curtails sample adulteration, ensuring the reliability and authenticity of test results. This secure testing process minimizes the risk of false negatives or deception, offering peace of mind through its trustworthy outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing locations nationwide, including those in Middletown, CA, accessing drug testing services is easy and hassle-free. Our widespread centers ensure quick and straightforward access to hair follicle tests, underscoring the emphasis on availability and convenience for our clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Middletown, CA, the process for hair follicle testing is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving the results, each step prioritizes ease of use and privacy. Concerns related to confidentiality are addressed effectively, ensuring that the entire process is straightforward and respectful of personal information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times, our services in Middletown, CA, deliver exceptional value to companies of all sizes. The combination of competitive pricing structures and swift result delivery fosters financial ease and confidence, making hair follicle testing an attractive option for businesses.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Middletown, CA, hair follicle drug testing is synonymous with precision and speed. This method offers high accuracy in detecting substances, ensuring results that can be trusted. The testing process is both swift and reliable, minimizing wait times while delivering detailed insights into substance use, which is crucial for maintaining a safe environment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Middletown, CA, utilizing hair follicle testing can greatly enhance compliance with workplace drug-free policies. It diminishes legal risks and fosters workplace safety, providing employers with the assurance that regulations are met satisfactorily. This contributes to a harmonious working environment and promotes overall peace of mind within companies.

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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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