Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Calvin, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a significant resource for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a protracted timeline of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the strands of the developing hair. Collected near the scalp, it offers up to a roughly 3-month period for detecting alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and easily shippable.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It's suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. Should scalp hair not be available, an equivalent amount of body hair should be gathered. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four principal stages in laboratory handling of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial processing phase where a sample is integrated into a laboratory system. This step ensures the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplemental data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening includes a preliminary examination to check for drug abuse. While Screening is cost-efficient for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive screening must be confirmed for court admissibility. Presumptively positive samples in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

If Screening results are presumptively positive, additional hair is drawn from the original specimen for Extraction. Here, drugs are separated from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), establishing hair drug screening as the most complex methodology.

Positive results from Screening receive Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug analyses can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine testing with shorter detection spans.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It can trace a pattern of drug use over a duration, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inadmissible for recent consumption: Drugs require approximately 5-7 days to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally incurs higher costs compared to other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the levels of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle tests to urine tests in Calvin, OK, the former demonstrates superior detection capabilities. Able to identify a longer history of substance use, these tests outshine the traditional urine tests, which are limited to brief detection periods.

Hair follicle testing’s thoroughness ensures employers and legal entities gain a more comprehensive understanding of an individual’s substance use. This hard-to-fabricate method prevents cheating, offering a reliable alternative to urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

In Calvin, OK, hair follicle testing offers an extensive detection window, covering up to 90 days of substance use. This feature provides employers with a significant advantage, enabling them to thoroughly evaluate an applicant’s or employee’s history.

Such broad detection ensures companies can make well-informed decisions, maintaining a safe and drug-free workplace. By offering a comprehensive overview, hair follicle tests stand as a valuable tool in ongoing employee evaluation and support.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Calvin, OK, hair follicle tests present a tamper-resistant method for drug testing that significantly minimizes risks of sample adulteration. This reliability ensures that results obtained are both dependable and legally sound.

A crucial advantage of hair testing is the difficulty in manipulating samples, making it a preferred choice for stakeholders requiring unquestionable test outcomes. The confidence in its accuracy guarantees peace of mind for decision-makers.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing facilities in Calvin, OK, and across the nation provide outstanding convenience. Regardless of your location, our network ensures effortless access to testing, contributing to a seamless experience for individuals and employers alike.

The availability of multiple centers alleviates the logistical challenges associated with drug testing, offering everyone quick and trouble-free access to necessary services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Calvin, OK, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be both simple and confidential. From ordering to testing and receiving results, the whole procedure respects individuals’ privacy concerns.

This user-centric approach ensures that everyone involved experiences ease; minimal complexities make understanding and participating in the process straightforward and worry-free.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Calvin, OK, we pride ourselves on offering competitive pricing and speedy turnaround for hair follicle drug tests. This affordability ensures businesses of all sizes can access our services without financial strain.

Coupling fair pricing with fast results provides exceptional value, ensuring that companies receive the information they need promptly, allowing for timely decision-making and planning.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Calvin, OK, hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their speed and precision. With their advanced testing methodologies, these tests deliver quick, accurate results that identify a wide spectrum of substances. This ensures employers can confidentially assess an individual’s substance history with high reliability.

The turnaround time for hair follicle testing rivals traditional approaches without compromising on accuracy. Quick results enable faster hiring decisions, allowing employers to maintain momentum and efficiency in their processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Calvin, OK, hair follicle testing offers compliance and tranquility. Utilizing this method guarantees adherence to workplace drug-free policies, enhancing safety and diminishing legal vulnerabilities.

By choosing hair testing, businesses can confidently maintain a safe working environment while reducing organizational risks, preserving both employees’ well-being and company reputation.

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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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