Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Berlin, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. A strand of hair captures and retains biomarkers within its fibers as it grows, thus providing an extensive timeline of alcohol and drug presence. When hair is taken from near the scalp, it delivers a detection timeframe of roughly up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 strands (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the perfect sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample weight of 150mg is advised. We encourage the use of a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If no scalp hair is available, an equivalent portion of body hair can be taken. Our term head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other types such as facial hair and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first step of registering a sample within a laboratory's system. This process includes confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While it offers an economical approach to negate drug use for most samples, a positive result needs validation to be court-admissible. Any sample indicative of a positive result in Screening requires a secondary verification.

For samples indicating a potential positive in Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from the hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing is the most complex methodology to conduct.

Confirmation for any presumptively positive result in Screening is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. All initially positive samples undergo a cleansing process before confirmation, as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use spanning up to 90 days, while urine tests have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers retrospective data: It provides a pattern of drug consumption over a longer period, as opposed to just recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to be identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing alternatives.
• Inconsistencies in outcomes: Variables like hair color and differences in individual hair growth may influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the actual test evaluates the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing is hailed in Berlin, OK for its superior detection accuracy compared to standard urine tests.
Offering extensive insight, hair tests detect drug usage patterns more reliably over time. While urine tests provide a snapshot, hair samples reveal a broader historical pattern of substance use.

The accuracy of hair tests is unmatched, with a typical detection period extending up to 90 days, providing a comprehensive look at drug use habits.

Extended Detection Window

In Berlin, OK, hair follicle drug assessments offer a remarkable detection window of up to 90 days.
This extended period provides employers with a thorough examination of an individual's substance history, offering a deeper insight into their long-term habits than typical urine tests.

With such a broad timeline, hair testing becomes an invaluable tool for understanding consistent substance use, beyond fleeting or infrequent consumption.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Berlin, OK significantly reduce the chances of sample tampering, ensuring authenticity in results.
By utilizing hair samples, the risk of adulteration is minimized compared to urine tests, which can be easily manipulated.
Employers benefit from the reliability and integrity of the hair testing method that consistently delivers credible outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers across Berlin, OK, accessing hair follicle testing services is both convenient and straightforward.
Our nationwide locations enable quick, hassle-free testing, providing flexibility and ease for individuals and companies alike.

• Whether scheduling a test locally or afar, our facilities are equipped to deliver efficient service whenever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Berlin, OK is designed to be simple and private.
From ordering to receiving results, every step is straightforward, ensuring ease and confidentiality.
Our clients appreciate the seamless experience, knowing their privacy is respected and comfort maintained throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Berlin, OK, our competitive pricing and rapid turnaround make hair follicle testing a cost-effective choice.
Our pricing is structured to offer exceptional value, ensuring businesses of various sizes can access reliable testing without undue expense.

Clients benefit from the combination of affordability and quick results, gaining peace of mind with every test administered.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Berlin, OK, hair follicle drug tests offer quick, accurate outcomes, ensuring a reliable evaluation of substance use.
The precision of these tests makes them a superior choice for detecting drug use efficiently, minimizing the likelihood of errors or inaccuracies often associated with other testing methods.

Within a short timeframe, hair follicle assessments deliver dependable results, meeting the needs of both employers and individuals seeking clarity on substance consumption.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Berlin, OK gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free policies.
Compliance with regulations reduces legal risks while enhancing workplace safety.

• Hair testing serves as a dependable method for maintaining a secure and responsible work environment, reinforcing an organization's commitment to safety and compliance.

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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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