Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Centralia, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair tests are now regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair records a comprehensive history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of its growing strands. Sampling hair close to the scalp allows for up to a three-month timeframe to detect alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

Taking a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp yields 100mg, ideal for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. It's suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is missing, a comparable quantity of body hair is an alternative. By head hair, we mean solely scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for a drug test result comprises four pivotal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the preliminary processing of a specimen into a lab’s system. It involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and sent, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any subsequent data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial, swift assessment for substances. Though Screening is a cost-efficient method to negate drug use in most samples, results positive during screening require corroboration to be valid in judicial settings, necessitating secondary confirmation.

Should a specimen show presumed positivity at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at notably lower concentrations than other approaches (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug tests the most complex to conduct.

Confirmation of any promising screening outcome is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples undergo washing before confirmation when required. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guideline and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which cover a shorter time span.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, enhancing accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: Provides an overview of drug consumption patterns over time, not mere recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot spot recent intake: Detection in hair requires roughly 5-7 days post-drug use.
• Price: Generally, hair tests are costlier than other drug testing options.
• Result discrepancies: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Though often dubbed "hair follicle tests," the test actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Centralia, OK lies in its superior detection capability and reliability. Hair tests provide a longer detection period and are minimally invasive.

Compared to more traditional urine tests, the likelihood of adulteration is significantly reduced with hair samples, ensuring the accuracy of the data collected.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Centralia, OK allows hair follicle testing to shine. Unlike shorter windows of traditional methods, hair testing reveals drug use history up to 90 days.

This offers employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance use over time, critical for evaluating candidacy or ongoing employment eligibility.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing's tamper-resistant nature offers a distinct advantage in Centralia, OK. By collecting under observation and due to the sample type's characteristics, altering results is nearly impossible.

This reliability ensures confidence that the results reflect true substance use, crucial for informed decision-making.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key with our nationwide testing locations, including Centralia, OK. Access to our testing centers is straightforward, ensuring a seamless experience.

• Local and nationwide availability
• Hassle-free and efficient service

Simple, Confidential Process

In Centralia, OK, the process remains simple and confidential from ordering to testing and results delivery. We prioritize your privacy and ease of use.

Our streamlined approach minimizes complications, making it straightforward to secure the necessary drug testing services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround, our services in Centralia, OK provide great value. Our competitive structure adheres to budgets of all sizes.

Companies can benefit from our efficiency, receiving comprehensive reports swiftly, securing their investment in workplace safety.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Centralia, OK, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision in detecting various substances makes them a preferred choice over traditional methods.

The process is both efficient and effective, delivering results swiftly without compromising accuracy. It's particularly beneficial for organizations looking to make informed decisions quickly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Centralia, OK can find peace of mind in the compliance offered by hair follicle testing. By aligning with drug-free policies, potential legal risks are reduced.

Implementing this testing method enhances safety and strengthens the reliability of workplace policies, promoting a healthier environment.

Drug Testing Near Centralia, OK

Dotyville, OK

Narcissa, OK

Afton, OK

Watova, OK

South Coffeyville, OK

Big Cabin, OK

Chelsea, OK

Lenapah, OK

Bluejacket, OK

Vinita, OK

Welch, OK

Nowata, OK

White Oak, OK

North Craig, OK

Alluwe, OK

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews