Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bray, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has increasingly become recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand, hair reveals a long-term usage history of alcohol and drugs. If gathered near the scalp, hair can offer up to a roughly 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp equates to 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair may be collected. When speaking of head hair, it specifically means scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process of a drug test result encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In Accessioning, the initial sample is processed within a lab’s system. This step involves confirming that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any remaining data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is an economical approach to eliminate drug use for most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for court admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening require a subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample yield a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is drawn from the original specimen for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods like urine or oral fluid, which is why hair drug screening is among the most challenging methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter window.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating on a hair drug test is quite challenging, ensuring more dependable results.
• Provides historical data: It can offer insights into a pattern of drug use over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Cost: Hair drug tests generally incur higher expenses than other drug testing techniques.
• Variations in results: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth rate can influence the drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis actually targets the hair strand rather than the scalp's underlying hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Bray, OK, hair follicle testing is superior to traditional urine tests due to its enhanced detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair testing can uncover drug usage over a longer period, making it the preferred choice for many employers and agencies. The detailed insights offered by hair testing exceed those of conventional methods.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Bray, OK, significantly extends the detection window for drug use, covering up to 90 days. This allows employers to gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance use history. The extended detection period offers more reliable insights compared to other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Bray, OK, hair follicle tests are designed to be tamper-resistant, ensuring high reliability through minimizing the risk of sample adulteration. This results in credible and unquestionable outcomes, boosting confidence in the drug testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing locations, including local centers in Bray, OK, accessing testing services is straightforward and efficient. Our network allows for quick and hassle-free evaluations, assuring individuals and businesses swift access to necessary testing facilities.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Bray, OK, our hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. Ordering, undergoing the test, and receiving results are straightforward while maintaining privacy throughout. This addresses any concerns around confidentiality and ease of use for participants.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing services in Bray, OK, provide competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times. The combination of excellent value and swift results makes our services attractive to companies of varying sizes, offering assurance and efficiency in drug testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Bray, OK, offer remarkably fast and precise detection of substance use. These evaluations provide high accuracy, ensuring reliable identification of various drugs. With quick processing times, results are available promptly, giving individuals and employers quick access to necessary information.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Bray, OK, gain compliance and peace of mind using hair follicle testing for workplace policies. Ensuring adherence to drug-free policies reduces legal exposure and enhances workplace safety. This method supports employers in maintaining a secure and compliant 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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