Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Eva, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly regarded as a potent means for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection window of approximately three months for alcohol and drugs. It's easy to collect, somewhat challenging to adulterate, and simple to mail.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests above 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. We suggest weighing the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not present, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, we are specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial stage of processing a sample into a laboratory’s system. This step involves ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a quick preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective method to dismiss drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for admissibility in a legal context. Any presumptively positive samples during Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other assays (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive result from the Screening stage is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection period.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, ensuring more accurate results.
• Provides historical data: It can demonstrate a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Approximately 5-7 days are needed for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Generally, hair drug tests are costlier than other drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Variables such as hair color and individual growth rates can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Eva, OK, hair follicle tests surpass traditional urine tests by offering extended detection accuracy and reliability.
Employers and authorities seeking comprehensive insight into substance use find hair tests invaluable; their ability to detect drug use for up to 90 days is a feat that urine tests can't match.

While urine tests are effective for recent drug use detection, hair testing outshines by reducing false negatives and improving detection consistency over the long term.
Additionally, the near impossibility of cheating hair tests contributes to their superiority over traditional methods.

Extended Detection Window

In Eva, OK, the extensive detection window of hair follicle testing provides an unmatched advantage.
With the capability to ascertain substance use up to 90 days back, it provides employers with a panoramic view of an individual's drug history.

This expanded assessment period is vital for employers, enabling informed decision-making regarding hiring or sustained employment.
As opposed to shorter timeframes with other testing methodologies, hair testing delivers a historic substance use profile.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Eva, OK, sets it apart as a trustworthy method.
This approach minimizes the risk of sample meddling, ensuring that results are credible and unassailable.

Given the invasive nature of other testing forms like urine, which are susceptible to tampering, hair testing confidently withstands manipulation.
Employers can trust these results, as the integrity of the hair sample remains preserved from collection to analysis.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers unparalleled convenience through its expansive network of locations nationwide, including Eva, OK.
Local testing centers provide quick and seamless access to drug testing services, eliminating the barrier of distance.

Whether you're in Eva or any other city across the country, our consistent and comprehensive service ensures that testing is always readily accessible.
This network ensures minimal downtime and maximizes efficiency for all testing requirements.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Eva, OK, our hair follicle testing process is both simple and discreet.
From test ordering to sample collection and result retrieval, the process prioritizes confidentiality, addressing privacy concerns efficiently.

Our user-friendly system and comprehensive support ensure that clients can easily navigate the entire procedure, confident in both the service and their privacy.
This seamless experience ensures that individuals and employers can focus on the results without stress.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and swift turnaround times in Eva, OK, are highlights of our hair follicle testing service.
Competitive rates alongside fast results provide excellent value for businesses of any scale, contributing to peace of mind without financial strain.

By offering both cost-effectiveness and quick processing, our service aligns with corporate budgets, ensuring that clients receive quality testing services without compromise.
Efficiency and affordability make our services the preferred choice for many.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug testing in Eva, OK, underscore its value. This testing method excels in delivering high-precision detection of substance use, minimizing the risk of inaccuracies and ensuring that test results reflect true drug use accurately.
Hair testing not only provides reliable data rapidly but also enhances the confidence of employers and authorities in their drug screening processes.

By incorporating hair follicle testing into your strategy, you benefit from swift results that can streamline your decision-making process.
Its accelerated turnaround time and pinpoint accuracy make it a compelling option for those needing dependable drug testing solutions in Eva.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Eva, OK, benefit immensely from adopting hair follicle testing, which ensures adherence to workplace drug policies.
This translates to reduced legal vulnerabilities and promotes a safer working environment.
By opting for this method, organizations demonstrate their commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace, fostering a culture of responsibility and safety.

Ultimately, this peace of mind enables employers to focus on productivity and efficiency, knowing they are compliant with required regulations.

Drug Testing Near Eva, OK

Hooker, OK

Castaneda, OK

Boise City, OK

Boise, OK

Optima, OK

Conrad, OK

Mouser, OK

Guymon, OK

Texhoma, OK

Goodwell, OK

Keyes, OK

Hough, OK

Burton, OK

Sturgis, OK

West Texas, 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