Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Calumet, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a formidable method for identifying substance use. Hair stores an extended timeline of substances by integrating biomarkers within its growing strand. With a sample taken near the scalp, hair can present up to a 3-month window for detecting substances like alcohol and drugs. It is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, approximately 200 strands of hair (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil), nearest the scalp provides 100mg, ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or those over 10 panels, collecting 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses other types (like facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory assessment of a drug test sample involves four fundamental steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial inclusion of a sample into a lab's processes. This phase involves ensuring that the sample was correctly sealed and transported, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. While it is a cost-efficient means to discount substance use in most cases, any positive result requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening need a secondary confirmation.

In cases of presumptive positives during Screening, more hair is drawn from the specimen for the Extraction phase. In this phase, substances are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening a more intricate process.

Every presumptive positive result is confirmed using techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that appear positive are cleansed before confirmation as required. Throughout the process from Accessioning to Confirmation, the procedure undergoes evaluation under both the College of American Pathologists' Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify substance use for as long as 90 days, surpassing the shorter detection scope of urine tests.
• Resistant to deception: Hair drug tests are notably difficult to manipulate, resulting in more precise outcomes.
• Records historical usage: Hair tests can reveal a pattern of substance use over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent consumption: Detecting substances in hair requires about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically pricier than other testing methodologies.
• Variable results: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite being referred to as "hair follicle tests," they actually examine the strand of hair, not the hair follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Calumet, OK, outshines urine tests. Hair testing offers extensive detection capabilities, showcasing greater accuracy and trustworthiness over traditional methods.

• Hair tests extend the window for substance detection.
• These are often more reliable than conventional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

In Calumet, OK, hair follicle testing is exceptional for its extended detection window. Employers gain a detailed view of an individual's drug history, stretching as far back as 90 days.

• This method greatly extends detection time compared to others.
• Employers receive a comprehensive profile of potential substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Calumet, OK residents benefit from hair follicle testing’s robustness against tampering. This method minimizes the opportunity for sample compromise, producing dependable and unquestionable results.

• Drastically reduces instances of sample adulteration.
• Reliable outcomes inspire confidence in results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Testing in Calumet, OK, is easy with nationwide centers available. This widespread coverage ensures that everyone can access testing services quickly and effortlessly.

• Nationwide centers provide testing accessibility for all.
• Local locations make the process hassle-free.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Calumet, OK, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. This approach addresses privacy concerns and ensures ease of use in every step from ordering to results delivery.

• The process is straightforward, from start to finish.
• Ensures privacy and confidentiality throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Calumet, OK companies can benefit from our competitive pricing and prompt turnaround times. Hair follicle testing provides excellent value, ensuring peace of mind for businesses of all sizes.

• Affordable pricing structures suit various budget needs.
• Fast turnaround times deliver results efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Calumet, OK, hair follicle tests stand out for their precise and quick outcomes. These tests are renowned for their high fidelity in identifying substance use, delivering results that are thoroughly accurate.

• The precision of hair tests provides accurate readings.
• These tests offer rapid results, facilitating timely decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Calumet, OK, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free policies, lowering legal risks, and enhancing workplace safety and peace of mind.

• Facilitates compliance with workplace regulations.
• Contributes to a safe and secure 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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