Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dustin, OK

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair tests has emerged as an effective means to detect drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive long-term record of drug and alcohol use by embedding biomarkers in its strands. Collected close to the scalp, it offers up to a 3-month scope for identifying trace substances. Hair collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.

Acquiring a 1.5-inch portion of around 200 hair strands (roughly matching a #2 pencil's thickness) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the recommended amount for testing and verification. For EtG, additional panels, or when exceeding 10 tests, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, collecting an equivalent quantity of body hair is an alternative. When mentioning head hair, it pertains strictly to scalp hair, whereas body hair covers all other forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test processing in a laboratory encompasses four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In Accessioning, the sample is initially incorporated into the lab's system. This step verifies the integrity of the sample's seal and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody mechanism.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for potential drug abuse. Although cost-effective, a positive screen must undergo confirmation to be used legally. Any samples testing potentially positive in Screening require further confirmation.

When a sample appears positive during Screening, additional hair is retrieved from the initial collection and made ready for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations compared to methods like urine or oral fluid analysis, making hair tests particularly challenging.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques are employed for Confirmation of positive screenings. Presumptive positive specimens undergo necessary cleansing before confirmation. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and the standards of ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair testing can trace drug usage for up to 90 days, exceeding urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• High resilience to tampering: Cheating in hair drug tests is notably difficult, enhancing result credibility.
• Traces usage trends: It reveals drug use patterns over time, not solely recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Incapability to detect immediate use: Detection of drugs requires roughly 5-7 days in hair.
• Higher expense: Hair tests tend to be costlier than other drug testing methods.
• Outcome variability: Hair color and personal growth rates can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" typically describes tests analyzing the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle tests outshine urine tests with their superior detection capabilities in Dustin, OK. The advanced accuracy and reliable results make hair testing a better option for substance use detection.

Extended Detection Window

In Dustin, OK, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days. It offers employers a detailed view of an individual's substance use history, beyond what urine tests can reveal.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Dustin, OK, is known for its tamper-resistant nature. This method minimizes the risk of sample tampering, delivering reliable and unquestionable results that stand up to scrutiny.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing locations across the nation and locally in Dustin, OK, accessing our services is quick and hassle-free. Our centers ensure you can get the tests you need with ease.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Dustin, OK, is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, privacy and ease are prioritized, addressing common concerns with sensitivity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Dustin, OK, we offer affordable pricing for hair follicle testing, coupled with fast turnaround times. Our competitive rates and swift service provide valuable peace of mind for businesses.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Dustin, OK, deliver fast, precise results. Their high accuracy makes them a preferred choice for detecting substance use. The testing process is efficient, ensuring results you can trust.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Dustin, OK, gain compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. It helps uphold drug-free workplace policies while reducing legal risks and enhancing safety.

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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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