Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Arcadia, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal up to an approximately 3-month window of alcohol and drug detection. It is straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of about 200 strands of hair (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample amount for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional checks, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. We recommend measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, a similar quantity of body hair can be taken. When referencing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair refers to all other types of hair (such as facial and axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result consists of four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning starts with the initial handling of a sample within the lab’s system. This involves confirming the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody process.

Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is economical for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Any sample that tests presumptively positive in Screening must undergo additional confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

A confirmation of any positive screening is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo a wash prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, thus results are more reliable.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: It requires around 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand itself rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Arcadia, OK, hair follicle tests demonstrate a clear advantage over urine tests. Unmatched detection accuracy is one of hair testing's key benefits. These extend far beyond regular urine screenings, detecting a broader window of substance use and delivering reliable and consistent data. This level of precision makes hair testing a preferred choice for many.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window, hair follicle testing in Arcadia, OK, captures up to 90 days of drug use history. Comprehensive monitoring offers employers a full picture of an individual's substance use, greatly exceeding the limitations of urine tests. This makes hair testing an essential tool for informed employment and probation decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Arcadia, OK, present a robust defense against tampering. Significantly more tamper-resistant than other methods, such as urine tests, they ensure authenticity and reliability. The difficulty in altering or falsifying results grants peace of mind to organizations seeking secure testing processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Nationwide and local, our testing locations in Arcadia, OK, offer convenience with hassle-free access to services. Numerous centers ensure quick testing procedures and customer satisfaction, making it easy for individuals and businesses to utilize our efficient drug testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Arcadia, OK, we provide a straightforward and discreet process for hair testing. Confidential and simple, it assures users of their privacy and ease. From ordering to receiving results, our protocol is designed to maintain confidentiality while delivering fast, accurate reports.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Arcadia, OK, benefits from our competitive pricing and rapid turnaround. Affordable rates make hair testing accessible to various organizations, while our prompt results enhance value and assurance for companies of all sizes, maintaining high standards without compromising on efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle tests offer impressive accuracy and quick results in Arcadia, OK. Speed and precision make them superior for detecting substance use, often providing conclusive data that employers and others rely on to ensure a trustworthy assessment of potential drug usage. The technique's ability to deliver swift, reliable outcomes sets it apart from traditional methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Arcadia, OK, achieve compliance with workplace policies through hair testing. Ensuring peace of mind, these tests reduce legal risks associated with drug use and enhance workplace safety. As a dependable solution, hair tests support employers in upholding a drug-free 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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