Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Strathmore, CA

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Employment, Court Ordered, Probation, Family

Accredited Drug Testing provides comprehensive hair follicle drug testing services in Strathmore, California. Whether you require a drug or alcohol test using hair samples, we specialize in hair testing with facilities located in multiple cities across the nation equipped to administer these tests. Generally, 1.5 to 2 inches of hair from your head or body is required. Our hair testing can detect drugs, alcohol/ETG, among other tailor-made testing solutions.

Recently, drug testing often involves the use of hair follicle tests. Employers, judicial systems, and Substance Abuse experts are increasingly opting for hair drug tests over standard urine tests. Hair follicle drug tests are favored by employers enforcing strict drug policies, legal courts, and individuals on probation. The key advantage of hair testing is its extended detection period, lasting up to 90 days, with samples collected under supervision, making cheating nearly impossible. However, urine tests remain the most precise for detecting recent drug use within five days.

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as a formidable means for detecting substance use. Hair archives a prolonged account of alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair's fibers as it grows. If collected near the scalp, hair can present a detection window for alcohol and drugs up to about three months. Hair collection is uncomplicated, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to mail.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil), taken closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred amount for examination and verification. For EtG, additional analysis, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. Using a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample is recommended. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" specifically denotes scalp hair. "Body hair" includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary phases in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the initial handling of a sample in a lab's system, ensuring the sample's secure sealing and shipment, delivering a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any leftover data input absent from an electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening serves as an initial rapid evaluation for drug abuse. While it's a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result in Screening requires verification for legal admissibility. Any samples with tentative positive outcomes in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If a tentative positive outcome arises from Screening, additional hair is drawn from the initial sample for Extraction preparation. In this segment, drug components are removed from hair at considerably lesser concentrations compared to alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis the most challenging technique.

Confirmation for any positive screening result is executed with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

  • Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection span.
  • Hard to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
  • Offers historical insight: It exhibits a spectrum of drug consumption over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

  • Recent use undetectable: Drugs are noticeable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
  • Expense: Hair drug examinations are typically more costly than other drug test methods.
  • Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can affect drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the procedure involves testing the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Strathmore, CA, hair follicle testing is overwhelmingly preferred over traditional urine tests due to its superior detection capabilities. Unlike urine tests, hair tests offer a longer detection window and are much harder to tamper with. Their higher accuracy and reliability make them an essential tool for those seeking comprehensive assessments of substance use, ensuring a more thorough overview of an individual's drug consumption history beyond the scope of urine analysis.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Strathmore, CA, offer an extended detection window, up to 90 days, allowing employers to attain a detailed understanding of an individual’s substance use history. This long detection period surpasses that of urine tests, providing a comprehensive view that is invaluable for evaluating long-term substance abuse patterns, crucial for making informed hiring or disciplinary decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Strathmore, CA, hair follicle testing is renowned for its tamper-resistant nature, ensuring the dependability of the testing process. Unlike other methods, hair samples are less susceptible to adulteration or substitution, offering results that hold up under scrutiny. This leads to confidence in the results provided, which are instrumental in enforcing strict drug-free policies and maintaining workplace integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing centers nationwide, including in Strathmore, CA, accessing hair follicle drug testing services is convenient and hassle-free. Our network of locations ensures that individuals and employers can find and utilize testing facilities quickly and easily, providing a seamless experience that supports the need for prompt and straightforward testing procedures.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Strathmore, CA, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential, from ordering to results delivery. Whether for individuals or businesses, the straightforward procedure streamlines testing while addressing privacy concerns, keeping sensitive information secure and ensuring a hassle-free user experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

The affordable pricing and quick turnaround times of hair follicle tests in Strathmore, CA, make them an attractive choice for employers of all sizes. They offer competitive cost structures and the benefit of receiving results swiftly, ensuring that companies can manage their testing needs effectively and economically, with assurance in the value and efficiency of the service provided.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The efficiency of hair follicle drug tests in Strathmore, CA, stands out in their ability to deliver fast and precise results. These tests are known for their high accuracy in detecting substance use, offering reliable outcomes that help maintain safety and compliance standards. The rapid processing and clear-cut results they provide make them attractive for employers who prioritize timely and dependable testing methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Strathmore, CA, provides employers with the means to maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing potential legal liabilities. By opting for this method, companies can ensure they are meeting necessary regulatory standards, promoting a safer and more productive work environment, and providing peace of mind when adhering to legal and policy mandates.

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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Frequently Asked Questions

A hair follicle drug test analyzes a small sample of hair to detect a history of drug use over time. Because drug metabolites are incorporated into hair as it grows, this method can show patterns of use instead of just recent exposure. It is frequently used for legal and court requirements, long-term monitoring, and high-trust workforce screening.
Standard hair drug testing typically reflects drug use over approximately a 90-day period, based on the length of hair collected at the time of testing. Longer hair can sometimes reflect a longer time frame, and extremely short hair can reduce that window.
Hair drug testing commonly screens for marijuana/THC, cocaine, opiates/opioids, amphetamines/methamphetamines, and PCP. In many cases, additional expanded panels may be requested to include other substances.
Yes. If the donor's head hair is too short or unavailable, body hair may be collected as an alternative. The collector will document the source of the sample. This allows testing even for individuals with recently cut or shaved head hair.
Yes. Hair drug testing is commonly used in court, probation, custody, and compliance matters because the collection process follows a documented chain of custody and the analysis is performed by a certified laboratory. Results are provided in a form that can be reviewed by legal and administrative authorities.
Yes. Individuals, parents, attorneys, employers, and probation programs can all request hair drug testing. A doctor's order is not required. Results are confidential and released only to the authorized requesting party.
Hair testing provides a longer look-back period than urine testing, making it useful when you need to demonstrate ongoing abstinence or identify repeated/recent substance use patterns over time rather than just recent exposure. It is frequently selected for legal, compliance, and custody-related documentation.
A small section of hair is cut by a trained collector in a discreet, controlled manner. The sample is sealed, documented, and sent to the laboratory under established chain-of-custody procedures so that the results can be defended if they are ever challenged.

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