Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Oak Hills, CA

What it is, How it works

The assessment of hair has become a highly effective means for identifying usage of drugs and alcohol. Hair strands offer a prolonged record of drug and alcohol use due to the entrapment of biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair can provide up to a three-month detection range for substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to send.

A sample length of 1.5 inches comprising around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides a 100mg sample, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advised. It’s suggested to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, a similar quantity of body hair may be taken. The term head hair specifically refers to scalp hair. In contrast, body hair encompasses all other types (including facial, axillary, etc.).

Procedure Overview

The key phases in laboratory drug testing include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab setup, encompassing verification that it was appropriately sealed and shipped, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data input omitted by an electronic custody chain system.

The purpose of Screening is to swiftly identify any drug abuse. Though an economically feasible approach to negate drug use in most samples, a positive result here mandates a confirmation for legal credibility. Presumptive positives during Screening necessitate subsequent validation.

Upon a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. This phase involves isolating drugs from the hair, concentrating less than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), signifying the complexity of hair drug analysis.

Confirmation of any positive result from Screening is undertaken via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that appear presumptively positive undergo a washing process prior to needed confirmation. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation, and accreditation for ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Merits of hair drug screening:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can recognize drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests hold a briefer detection period.
• Cheat-proof nature: Tampering with hair drug tests is extremely challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Tracks historical data: It can outline a pattern of drug consumption over time, beyond just recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Unable to indicate recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be costlier than other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual hair growth differences influence drug metabolite concentration within the hair.

Note: While frequently labeled as "hair follicle tests," the examination pertains to the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Oak Hills, CA, hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine tests, thanks to its superior detection capabilities. This method is not only more robust in accuracy, but it also offers enhanced reliability. The longer detection period provided by hair samples further sets it apart, ensuring that substance use does not go unnoticed, making it a clear choice over urine samples.

Extended Detection Window

With its exceptional ability to reveal drug use over an extended timeframe, hair follicle testing is invaluable in Oak Hills, CA. This method, examining up to 90 days of history, offers employers a thorough perspective on substance use. Such extensive insight allows for a better understanding of an applicant's or employee's past behaviors, promoting well-informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Oak Hills, CA, offers a tamper-resistant solution for substance detection. By significantly minimizing the possibility of sample adulteration, this testing method ensures trustworthy and unquestionable outcomes. The inherent design of hair tests makes them highly reliable and a preferred choice for accurate substance use assessment.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide testing centers, including those available in Oak Hills, CA, highlight the ease of accessing hair follicle testing. This extensive network ensures quick, straightforward, and hassle-free testing services. No matter where you are, our facilities make arranging and undergoing testing a streamlined and convenient process.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Oak Hills, CA, is designed to be simple and confidential. From the initial order to receiving results, ease and privacy are prioritized. Concerns regarding confidentiality are addressed, ensuring that individuals and businesses can navigate the testing process with comfort and assurance.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Oak Hills, CA, our hair follicle testing offers competitive pricing paired with fast turnaround times. Companies of all sizes can benefit from the excellent value this provides, allowing for efficient and cost-effective substance use screening. This balance of affordability and speed gives businesses confidence and peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Oak Hills, CA, benefits from rapid and precise hair follicle drug testing. This method is acclaimed for its accurate detection of various substances, ensuring reliable and swift outcomes. By bypassing the limitations of conventional tests, hair follicle evaluations provide businesses and individuals with dependable insights into substance use, boosting confidence in the results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For businesses in Oak Hills, CA, hair follicle testing facilitates compliance with drug-free workplace policies, offering peace of mind. By reducing legal risks and elevating workplace safety, this method supports a secure and substance-free environment. Employers gain confidence and reassurance that their standards are being upheld effectively.

Drug Testing Near Oak Hills, CA

Lake Hughes, CA

Westwood, CA

Vinton, CA

Almonte, CA

Campbell, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews