Hair Follicle Drug Testing - West Menlo Park, CA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the structure of the developing hair shaft. When cut close to the head, hair can present nearly a 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment containing around 200 strands of hair (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample quantity for assessment and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, it is advised to collect 150mg of the sample. It is suggested to measure the sample mass using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unobtainable, a similar quantity of body hair is an alternative. Head hair specifically denotes scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four fundamental steps in the laboratory handling of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample within a laboratory’s framework. This process involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry omitted by an electronic custody chain system.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. While Screening is an economical method to dismiss drug consumption in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be validated for legal acceptance. Any samples that are apparently positive in Screening necessitate an additional confirmation.

If a specimen is tentatively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably reduced concentrations than in other procedures (ex. urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug analysis is the most intricate procedure to conduct.

Verification of any positive screening result occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All ostensibly positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation as required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the certification to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection window: Hair drug assessments can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, surpassing urine tests, which have a more limited detection period.
• Resistance to manipulation: It is extremely tough to manipulate a hair drug assessment, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a usage pattern over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent usage: It takes about 5-7 days for substances to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments are typically pricier than alternative drug evaluation methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair pigmentation and individual hair growth differences may influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In West Menlo Park, CA, hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. Hair tests boast superior detection accuracy, capturing substance use history up to 90 days. This method provides reliable results, even in observed environments, making it nearly impossible to undermine. Such reliability ensures employers maintain a trustworthy screening process.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in West Menlo Park, CA, benefit from hair follicle tests because of their extended detection window. This method captures drug use over a prolonged period, up to 90 days, providing a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance history. This extended insight aids in evaluating potential hires or monitoring current employees' adherence to drug policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in West Menlo Park, CA, offer a tamper-resistant method for drug testing. Due to the nature of hair analysis, the risk of sample adulteration is significantly reduced. This process ensures reliable and unquestionable results, providing peace of mind to employers seeking dependable solutions for substance testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing locations, including those in West Menlo Park, CA, accessing hair follicle testing services is straightforward. Our widespread network ensures hassle-free and quick testing, accommodating various client needs seamlessly. This broad reach makes our testing services both accessible and efficient.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of obtaining hair follicle testing in West Menlo Park, CA, is simple and confidential. From ordering a test to taking it and receiving results, each step is designed to ensure privacy and ease of use. Clients can trust in the discretion and straightforward nature of our services, ensuring comfort and confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In West Menlo Park, CA, we pride ourselves on offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle tests. Our competitive pricing structure ensures exceptional value for companies of all sizes, and our quick turnaround guarantees prompt results, allowing businesses to proceed with confidence in their hiring and monitoring practices.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in West Menlo Park, CA, stand out for their precision and rapid results delivery. They offer notable accuracy when detecting substance use, ensuring businesses make informed decisions swiftly. With their advanced technology, hair tests provide results quickly without sacrificing reliability, making them a preferred choice for accurate substance screening.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle testing in West Menlo Park, CA, helps businesses maintain compliance and peace of mind. Adopting this method aligns with workplace drug-free policies, reducing legal risks and enhancing safety. By ensuring consistent and reliable results, employers can focus on cultivating a safe and productive work environment.

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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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