Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mission Canyon, CA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Through trapping biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand, hair provides an extended history of alcohol and drug use. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer a detection range of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and uncomplicated to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, considered the optimal sample for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels surpassing 10, 150mg is suggested. We advise using a jeweler's scale for specimen measurement. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be obtained. "Head hair" signifies only scalp hair, while "body hair" includes any other hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial phase of integrating a sample into a laboratory’s system. This step involves confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any remaining data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to disregard drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen requires validation to become court-admissible. Samples with presumptive positives in Screening need further confirmation.

When Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction process. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations much lower than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring why hair drug screening is the most complex methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation alongside ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection window.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating on a hair drug test is notably challenging, increasing the accuracy of results.
• Provides historical data: It offers a pattern of drug use over a sustained period, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Typically, hair drug tests are more costly compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Variations in results: Variables such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although often named "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Mission Canyon, CA
Hair follicle tests offer significant advantages over traditional urine testing. They provide a much more extended detection window, typically covering up to 90 days, versus the shorter timeframe of urine tests. This extended period means a more comprehensive assessment of a person’s substance use history.

Employers prefer hair testing for its reliability and lower chance of evasion attempts, presenting a clearer picture of an individual's habits and ensuring policies are upheld effectively.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Mission Canyon, CA
The hair follicle drug test's most notable benefit is its ability to reveal drug use over a much longer duration, up to 90 days. This enables a thorough examination of an applicant or employee’s substance history, providing crucial insights that can influence hiring decisions or employee management.

This capability is particularly appealing to employers looking to understand long-term habits and reduce workplace risks associated with substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Mission Canyon, CA
A major advantage of hair follicle tests is their resistance to tampering. This method substantially lowers the potential for sample manipulation, ensuring results are accurate and credible. This reliability builds confidence in the findings and supports fair decision-making processes in employment or legal settings.

With fewer ways to interfere with the results, this test secures trust in the assessment of an individual's substance status.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Mission Canyon, CA
Our extensive network of testing centers simplifies access to services across the country and locally in Mission Canyon. These sites provide an easy, hassle-free testing experience, ensuring that you can access the services you need promptly and efficiently without significant travel or effort.

Count on our locations to make the testing process streamlined and accessible to all.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Mission Canyon, CA
The process for ordering and undergoing a hair follicle test is straightforward and secure, respecting your privacy at every step. From scheduling to receiving your results, the procedure is designed to be simple and stress-free, eradicating concerns about confidentiality or complications.

Your information is handled discreetly, maintaining your privacy and the integrity of the results throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Mission Canyon, CA
Our services are priced competitively, providing excellent value without compromising on quality or speed. Rapid turnaround times ensure that you receive results promptly, alleviating uncertainty and allowing swift action or decisions, whether for employment or personal purposes.

Companies of all sizes benefit from our affordable pricing, ensuring risk management aligns with their operational goals and budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Mission Canyon, CA
When it comes to drug detection, the precision of hair follicle tests stands out. These tests deliver quick and trustworthy data, minimizing the stress of long waits and uncertain results. Substances are identified with high accuracy, giving peace of mind that the conclusions reached are well-founded and reliable.

Employers and individuals value the capability of these tests to detect even small traces of substance use, reassuring them of its accuracy and efficiency in assessing potential drug use scenarios.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Mission Canyon, CA
Utilizing hair follicle testing aligns with maintaining drug-free workplace policies, offering employers peace of mind. This testing supports compliance by minimizing legal risks and ensuring a safer workplace environment, fundamentally enhancing organizational standards and reputation.

Employers can trust that these measures effectively uphold company guidelines and demonstrate a commitment to safety and policy adherence.

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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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