Hair Follicle Drug Testing - East Mayes, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying alcohol and drug usage. Hair captures biomarkers within the fibers of its growing strands, offering a comprehensive timeline of substance use. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, alteration is challenging, and it can be easily sent for analysis.

A sample of 1.5 inches, equating to approximately 200 strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for both screening and confirmation processes. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. It is recommended to use a jeweler’s scale for measuring. In the absence of scalp hair, body hair of equivalent mass can be collected. The term "head hair" is specific to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result consists of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step where a sample is logged into a laboratory’s system. This involves confirming the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although cost-effective for identifying negative results across most samples, any positive findings in Screening require confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Presumptive positive samples necessitate a secondary confirmation.

During Extraction, additional hair is taken from the original sample for further analysis if a presumptive positive is found in Screening. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at considerably lower concentrations compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid, highlighting why hair testing is the most intricate methodology.

Positive results from the Screening are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS analyses. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as required. The laboratory’s process, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, undergoes scrutiny under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify substance use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Challenging to manipulate: The difficulty of tampering with hair drug tests makes the results highly reliable.
• Provides usage history: It can show a longer-term pattern of drug consumption, not limited to recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect immediate use: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become detectable within hair strands.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are more costly than alternative testing methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration levels.

Note: Although commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the test itself assesses the hair strand rather than the follicle located beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers several benefits over traditional urine tests in East Mayes, OK.

• With superior accuracy in detection, hair tests reveal substance use with greater clarity.
• They provide a longer misuse history, making them more reliable for long-term substance assessment.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing stands out due to its extended detection window in East Mayes, OK.

• Unlike other tests, it identifies drug use up to a remarkable 90 days in the past.
• This broadens the evaluation scope, offering employers and authorities a comprehensive look at an individual's substance history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

East Mayes, OK trusts hair follicle testing for its tamper-resistant nature.

• Follicle samples are almost impossible to adulterate, ensuring validity.
• This offers peace of mind, as the risk of sample doping prevalent in other methods is greatly reduced.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide testing centers provide users in East Mayes, OK access to quick services.

• The convenience of multiple locations makes scheduling tests effortless.
• From local regions to far-flung areas, we ensure hassle-free testing experiences.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in East Mayes, OK is both simple and confidential.

• Ordering, testing, to result collection is streamlined for user ease.
• We prioritize privacy, ensuring all personal data remains secured.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In East Mayes, OK, our pricing is affordable without compromising on service quality.

• Competitive pricing structures attract companies of all sizes.
• Fast turnaround times ensure efficient processing of tests.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests are recognized for their speed and precision in East Mayes, OK.

• These tests boast high accuracy in detecting substances, offering reliable results.
• Unlike other methods, hair tests rapidly process samples, ensuring fast result delivery.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle testing in East Mayes, OK enhances compliance and promotes peace of mind for employers.

• Helps align with workplace drug-free regulations, reducing potential legal ramifications.
• Increases overall safety, fostering a secure working environment.

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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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