Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cedar Valley, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers in the strands of hair as it grows. When clipped near the scalp, hair can reveal substance use across a span of roughly three months. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and transport is convenient.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields about 100mg, making it an optimal sample for testing and verification. For EtG, additional analyses, and evaluations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of a sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing is recommended. If no scalp hair is present, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result comprises Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This step includes ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening checks promptly for drug abuse indicators. It is an economical way to exclude drug use in most samples; however, any positive screen must be confirmed to be legally valid. Samples testing presumptively positive during Screening will require additional confirmation.

In cases where a sample shows a presumptive positive in Screening, more hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration compared to other techniques like urine or oral fluid, which is why hair drug analysis is considered the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirming any positive screening outcome is done via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is overseen under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug assessments can detect drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Difficult to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is significantly tough, ensuring more credible results.
• Shows historical use: It provides insight into drug use over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly compared to other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", they actually analyze the strand of hair, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Cedar Valley, OK, hair follicle testing is a superior alternative to urine tests, known for its higher accuracy and dependability. These tests are significantly more effective in identifying drugs over a more extended period. While urine tests might miss certain timeframes, hair tests provide a robust solution by offering a wide detection scope.

Extended Detection Window

Cedar Valley, OK benefits from hair follicle testing due to its extended detection window, recognizing drug use over 90 days. This capability allows employers a detailed insight into an individual's past substance activities, helping to ensure a well-informed decision process when hiring or evaluating staff.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Cedar Valley, OK, hair follicle tests are distinguished by their resilience to tampering. With the reduced possibility of sample adulteration, these tests offer results that are both credible and indisputable, providing assurance in their dependability and accuracy, essential for maintaining integrity in testing procedures.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Boasting convenience, our testing centers across the nation include local options in Cedar Valley, OK, offering seamless access to services. Whether seeking quick or hassle-free testing processes, our wide network of centers ensures clients enjoy both speed and comfort during their testing experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Cedar Valley, OK, is designed to be easy and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving results, each step is straightforward and focuses on maintaining privacy and user-friendliness, addressing any concerns regarding confidentiality or complexity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Cedar Valley, OK, our hair follicle testing services stand out for reasonable pricing and swift results. Our competitive rate structure and quick turnaround offer substantial value and assurance to businesses of varying sizes, building trust and demonstrating our commitment to affordability and efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cedar Valley, OK, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, precise, and trustworthy outcomes. These tests are known for their high accuracy in identifying substance use, setting the standard for reliability in the field of drug testing. The method guarantees that results are not only rapid but also greatly dependable due to its meticulous analysis process.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Cedar Valley, OK, hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This testing method not only lowers legal liabilities but also promotes a secure and safe working environment, offering peace of mind related to both compliance and employee welfare.

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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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