Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Asher, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has established itself as an effective resource for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When cut near the scalp, hair provides an alcohol and drug detection timeline of approximately three months. It's easy to gather, hard to tamper with, and simple to mail.

A 1.5-inch portion of around 200 hair strands (approximately a #2 pencil in thickness) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, the perfect amount for evaluation and verification. For EtG enhancements and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale is recommended. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equal portion of body hair can be collected. In this context, head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other hair forms (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in processing a drug test in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is about integrating a sample into a lab’s framework. This involves checking that the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and carrying out any data entry not performed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a brief preliminary evaluation for drugs of abuse. While it's a cost-effective method to eliminate drug use across many samples, positive screening results must be verified for legal admissibility. Samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

Should Screening show a presumptively positive result, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid, which makes hair drug screening one of the more challenging procedures.

Confirmation of positive Screening outcomes is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples with presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation alongside accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair tests can identify drug use for roughly 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with shorter intervals.
• Hard to manipulate: Manipulating results in a hair test is extremely difficult, enhancing accuracy.
• Provides historical insights: It reveals patterns of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot reveal recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair only after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier compared to other testing methods.
• Result fluctuations: Elements like hair color and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations within hair.

Note: Though often termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination actually targets the hair strand, not the scalp-embedded follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Asher, OK, hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine tests with its noteworthy benefits. Its superior detection accuracy and long testing window comprehensively showcase reliable results beyond mere urine analysis.

Compared to urine tests, hair testing offers enhanced detection reliability, capturing a broader scope of substance use history, thereby giving organizations the edge in drug screening processes.

Extended Detection Window

Extended detection windows make hair follicle testing a valuable tool in Asher, OK, providing insight into substance use over 90 days. This offers a comprehensive history of an employee’s or applicant’s drug activity.

With its prolonged detection period, hair testing allows employers to paint a vivid picture of an individual’s drug use, spanning up to three months, which aids in making informed decisions regarding recruitment and retention.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Asher, OK, hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method, significantly mitigating risks associated with sample adulteration. It guarantees reliable and unquestionable results through its structured testing process.

The methodology behind hair testing effectively reduces the chances of cheating, offering organizations confidence in the authenticity of the results obtained, and ensuring integrity in drug testing procedures.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide network of testing centers ensures simple and hassle-free access to hair testing services in Asher, OK. This extensive reach guarantees quick service for drug testing needs.

Getting tested is a breeze with a wide array of conveniently located centers. Whether local or traveling, our facilities provide streamlined and accessible testing options to accommodate diverse needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

Offering a straightforward and confidential testing process in Asher, OK, hair follicle testing simplifies the ordering, testing, and result-receiving steps, addressing privacy concerns with ease.

Our process emphasizes discretion and user-friendliness, ensuring each step from test initiation to completion is simple, respectful of privacy, and candidly communicated to all clients needing reliable results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing in Asher, OK, makes hair follicle testing an affordable choice with fast turnaround times. Options cater to diverse company sizes, providing excellent value and prompt results.

Besides affordability, the efficiency of our service ensures that companies experience minimized waiting periods, enhancing value while maintaining robust testing frameworks tailor-made for organizational needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Asher, OK, the swift precision of hair follicle drug testing ensures fast, accurate, and reliable results. With advanced detection methods, it swiftly identifies substance use, offering superior accuracy compared to other drug testing methods.

Hair tests excel by providing quick results while maintaining a high level of accuracy. This makes them a preferred choice for organizations looking for dependable drug testing solutions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Asher, OK, fosters employer compliance with workplace drug-free policies, reducing legal risks. Enhancing workplace safety, it supports peace of mind through its reliable detection capabilities.

Ensuring adherence to drug-free initiatives, hair testing aids employers in mitigating potential legal challenges and upholding a secure working environment, maintaining organizational integrity and employee trust.

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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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