Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Goldsby, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as a potent instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can capture a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand-borne fibers. When sourced near the scalp, hair provides a detection span of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. The process of collecting hair samples is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is considered the ideal amount for tests and confirmations. For EtG, additional options, and/or tests over 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. It's best to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When referring to head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial step where a sample gets integrated into a lab system. This phase includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening acts as a preliminary assessment for commonly abused substances. Although it is an economical method to exclude drug use in most cases, any positive Screening result needs legal confirmation. Samples that test positive at the Screening stage need further confirmation.

If Screening indicates a positive result, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for the Extraction process. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), emphasizing the challenge of hair drug screening as a methodology.

Confirmation for any positive Screening outcome is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptively positive undergo washing prior to Confirmation as necessary. Each stage from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes systematic review following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection span: Hair drug tests can reveal drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter spans.
• Challenging to manipulate: A hair drug test is hard to alter, ensuring more accurate outcomes.
• Supplies historical usage data: It reflects drug use patterns over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent consumption: Detection in hair takes about 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier compared to alternative testing options.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug residues.

Note: Referred to as "hair follicle tests", these tests actually analyze the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Goldsby, OK
Hair follicle testing offers a superior alternative to traditional urine tests, especially within Goldsby, OK. It is revered for its enhanced detection accuracy and the ability to uncover substance use over a lengthy period, making it a more reliable and trustworthy method. Employers benefit from this accuracy, ensuring compliance and safety in the workplace.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Goldsby, OK
In Goldsby, OK, hair follicle testing is prized for its ability to reveal substance use over an extended duration, up to 90 days. This prolonged detection window offers employers a detailed understanding of an individual's past drug use, thus aiding in informed hiring and retention decisions and ensuring workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Goldsby, OK
The risk of sample adulteration is significantly lower with hair follicle tests conducted in Goldsby, OK. This testing method is lauded for its ability to deliver reliable, foolproof results, reducing the likelihood of tampering and thus ensuring an untainted assessment of substance use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations in Goldsby, OK
With testing centers available nationally and locally in Goldsby, OK, Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy, straightforward access to hair follicle drug tests. This network of locations facilitates smooth, hassle-free testing experiences, accommodating both individual and corporate needs seamlessly.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Goldsby, OK
In Goldsby, OK, ordering and administering hair follicle drug tests is both straightforward and confidential. Accredited Drug Testing addresses privacy concerns by ensuring that results are processed securely, making the entire process user-friendly while maintaining stringent confidentiality standards.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Goldsby, OK
Offering competitive pricing models, Accredited Drug Testing in Goldsby, OK ensures that hair follicle testing is economically feasible for companies of varying sizes. Moreover, the quick turnaround time enhances efficiency, providing excellent value and reassurance for enterprises and individuals alike.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate Results in Goldsby, OK
Precision and speed are key attributes of hair follicle drug tests. In Goldsby, OK, these tests provide a high degree of accuracy in detecting substance use, offering reliable insights promptly. This ensures swift decision-making for employers and individuals alike, making hair testing a preferred choice for those prioritizing accurate substance detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Goldsby, OK
Utilizing hair follicle testing in Goldsby, OK allows employers to enforce drug-free workplace policies with confidence. This approach minimizes legal liabilities and enhances occupational safety, and employers gain peace of mind knowing that their testing methods comply with legal and policy standards.

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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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