Hair Follicle Drug Testing - University Of California Davis, CA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering an extended history of substance use. When taken near the scalp, hair samples can yield a detection period of roughly 3 months for various substances. It's straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to ship.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) taken nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for testing and validation. For EtG, extra tests, and those exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing. In cases where scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent batch of body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" denotes other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into the lab's system. This step verifies if the sample was sealed and transported properly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs a preliminary, expedited check for drug presence. Though cost-effective for dismissing drug use in most samples, a positive screen demands confirmation for court acceptability. Any samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), contributing to the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening involves GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples are washed prior to necessary confirmation. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter periods.
• Resistance to manipulation: Tampering with hair drug tests is highly challenging, enhancing reliability.
• Historical insights: It traces long-term drug use patterns, beyond mere recent activities.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent use detection: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to appear in hair.
• Higher expenses: Hair drug testing typically costs more than other methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual growth rates may impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often named "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In University of California Davis, CA, the superiority of hair follicle testing over urine tests is clear. Hair tests have a longer detection window, capturing drug use history extensively over months rather than days, eliminating the shortcoming of brief detection periods associated with urine samples.

Hair testing's precision gives it a considerable advantage. It provides a more accurate representation of an individual's substance use over time, which is why many organizations now favor it over the traditional urine test methods.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window, hair follicle testing captures substance use over a scope of up to 90 days, far surpassing other testing methods. In University of California Davis, CA, this yields a thorough insight into an employee or applicant's drug history, aiding employers in making informed decisions.

The broader detection range not only reinforces workplace safety but also ensures that employers are apprised of substance use patterns well beyond mere temporary consumption, enhancing evaluative accuracy in recruitment processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In University of California Davis, CA, hair follicle tests are renowned for their tamper-resistant nature, effectively minimizing risks of sample adulteration. Unlike urine tests, hair samples are difficult to manipulate, providing reliable and unquestionable results.

This precision in security makes hair testing a preferred choice for employers, ensuring authenticity and dependability in drug testing protocols, thereby maintaining workplace integrity without compromised results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of our nationwide network of testing centers, including those in University of California Davis, CA, makes hair follicle testing accessible. This network ensures that individuals can easily secure testing services without undue hassle or delay, providing essential support for timely substance use screening.

Quick and easy access to local testing sites empowers both employers and individuals, offering the flexibility and coverage needed across the country to meet diverse testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

At our University of California Davis, CA locations, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, each step is streamlined for user convenience and privacy preservation.

We emphasize a seamless experience, ensuring that individuals undergo the process with ease while maintaining confidentiality, fostering trust and compliance in drug testing requirements.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing services in University of California Davis, CA, offer competitive pricing alongside swift turnaround times. We provide a cost-effective solution that delivers great value, ensuring organizations of all sizes can access premium testing services without financial strain.

The combination of affordability and expedited results underscores our commitment to excellence, providing peace of mind for those relying on rapid and reliable drug testing outcomes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug testing available in University of California Davis, CA, boasts remarkable speed and precision, providing unparalleled accuracy in detecting substance use. With cutting-edge technology, these tests yield dependable results rapidly, making them a preferred choice for timely substance abuse screening.

Our testing centers prioritize delivering fast, accurate outcomes. The efficiency of hair follicle testing ensures that employers receive timely updates on the substance use status of their candidates or employees, preserving the integrity of the workplace.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing at the University of California Davis, CA, provides a compliance-friendly method aligned with workplace drug-free policies, minimizing legal liabilities. Employers benefit from the assurance that these tests uphold safety regulations and maintain a drug-free environment consistently.

Such testing measures enhance peace of mind, reassuring employers that their due diligence in maintaining safety and legal compliance is effectively met, promoting overall organizational well-being.

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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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