Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Criner, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments have emerged as an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair conserves an extended record of alcohol and drugs by trapping biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer roughly a 3-month detection range for both alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to send.

A 1.5-inch sample containing around 200 strands of hair (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a recommendation of 150mg of the specimen is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale is suggested for weighing the specimen. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair may be collected. When mentioning head hair, it refers solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The prime phases entailed in laboratory processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning deals with the initial processing of a sample into a laboratory's framework. This involves verifying that the sample was adequately sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid check for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be permissible in court. Any samples regarded as presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample is considered presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are derived from hair at a lower concentration than other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging procedure to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result utilizes GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning through Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days, contrasted with urine tests which possess a shorter detection range.
• Challenge in deceit: It is tough to deceive a hair drug test, ensuring the results are more precise.
• Offers historical data: It can present a pattern of drug use over a time frame, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to be identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Diverse result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Criner, OK, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. This innovative testing approach captures a broader spectrum of drug use, covering up to a 90-day period, and is less prone to tampering. Traditional urine tests often fall short in these aspects, highlighting the advantage of hair testing.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Criner, OK presents a prolonged detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This extended timeframe provides employers with a better understanding of an individual's substance use history, which is crucial when assessing the reliability and credibility of current or prospective employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Criner, OK, hair follicle testing proves to be a tamper-resistant method, minimizing the possibility of sample adulteration. This assures credible and consistent results, which are vital for legal and employment scenarios where accuracy and integrity cannot be compromised.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing guarantees convenient access to testing services with nationwide sites, including local ones in Criner, OK. This broad network allows for streamlined, stress-free testing, ensuring that our services are accessible where and when you need them.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Criner, OK, our hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential. From ordering a test to obtaining results, confidentiality is prioritized. Easily accessible online tools and support ensure that privacy concerns are addressed, making the entire process worry-free.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing services in Criner, OK are priced competitively, with quick turnaround times. These features offer significant value to organizations of all sizes, ensuring they receive quality service without breaking the bank, while also benefiting from rapid result delivery that aids timely decision-making.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Employing hair follicle drug testing in Criner, OK offers precision and rapid analysis. This testing method provides highly accurate results by pinpointing substance use history with exceptional reliability. The fast processing of samples ensures timely results, which is pivotal for decision-making and maintaining compliance with drug-free policies.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Criner, OK gain peace of mind and confidence by utilizing hair follicle testing. This method aligns with workplace drug-free policies, diminishing legal vulnerabilities and bolstering workplace safety. The reliable outcomes reinforce a company's commitment to security and compliance.

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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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