Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Orinda, CA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands retain a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers within the fiber structures as hair grows. When sourced from near the scalp, hair can offer up to an estimated 3-month detection window for alcohol and drug usage. It is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to send.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) from the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is considered the optimal sample for preliminary and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additional panels, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair pertains to all other hair types (such as facial and axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four principal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the sample’s initial integration into the laboratory's system. This step includes verifying the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary rapid check for illicit drug use. Although Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug usage for the majority of samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be permissible in legal settings. Any samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate an additional confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, additional hair is drawn from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid); this is why hair drug testing is considered the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening result is accomplished via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples marked presumptively positive are cleansed before confirmation if required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use over a period of up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: It is notably challenging to falsify a hair drug test, ensuring more reliable outcomes.
• Historical insight: It can map out a pattern of drug use over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It requires around 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier compared to alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis is performed on the hair strand and not on the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Orinda, CA, hair follicle testing stands out for its superior detection capability when compared to urine tests. Benefits include a longer detection time, up to 90 days, which urine tests fail to offer. Hair testing yields a more detailed substance use history, proving more useful in settings with strict anti-drug policies.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Orinda, CA, offers an unparalleled detection window, capturing drug use up to a 90-day period. This method provides a broader overview of an individual’s substance use history, essential for employers eager to maintain a drug-free workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

With advanced tamper-resistant features, hair follicle testing in Orinda, CA, drastically reduces the likelihood of sample adulteration. Its robust methodology ensures trustworthy results, making it a reliable option for accurate drug screening.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Orinda, CA, benefits from convenient access to nationwide testing facilities, providing quick and hassle-free services. Our extensive network simplifies the process, ensuring efficient drug testing no matter the location.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Orinda, CA, the process for conducting hair follicle tests is straightforward and confidential. Ordering, participating, and receiving results is designed to prioritize privacy while maintaining user-friendliness, addressing potential privacy concerns effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid result delivery in Orinda, CA, hair follicle testing presents excellent value. These features ensure cost-effective and speedy solutions for businesses, providing assurance through financially viable drug testing options.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The accuracy and swiftness of hair follicle drug testing in Orinda, CA, cannot be overstated. These tests provide reliable results by detecting drug usage with higher precision than other methods. It's beneficial to those seeking fast and accurate insights into substance use, making it a preferred choice for numerous evaluators.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employing hair follicle testing in Orinda, CA, assures adherence to drug-free workplace regulations, minimizing legal threats. It fosters a safer work setting by offering peace of mind through consistent and sound drug testing policies.

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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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