Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gregory, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and other drug usage by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair can provide a detection period of up to approximately three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, comparatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimum sample size for screening and confirmation. For testing such as EtG, add-ons, and/or over 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is recommended to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair can be taken. When mentioning head hair, we only refer to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the first step where a sample is entered into a laboratory’s system. It entails ensuring that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any additional data entry unmet by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid check for drug abuse. Although cost-effective for excluding drug usage in most samples, a positive screening must be confirmed for legal acceptability. Any samples with presumptive positive results in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive result in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly reduced concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most intricate method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples with assumed positive results are cleansed before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which detect a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: It's challenging to deceive a hair drug test, resulting in more accurate outcomes.
• Provides usage pattern data: It can depict a timeline of drug use over a significant period, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Diverse results: Elements like hair color and personal variances in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing strategically outshines traditional urine tests in Gregory, OK due to its superior detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, hair tests capture a longer history of drug use, providing a more reliable substance use profile of an individual.

Employers seeking a more reliable method of drug screening often find hair testing superior. Not only does it offer extended detection of drug use, but it also significantly reduces the chances of test manipulation, offering enhanced reliability over standard urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Gregory, OK boasts an extended detection window, capturing drug use for up to 90 days. This long-reaching detection span empowers employers with a detailed substance history of the individual being tested, offering thorough insight into their past substance use.

This approach sheds light on patterns of long-term drug use, allowing for a comprehensive analysis. For employers, the extended detection window bridges the gap in identifying historical substance use, providing an unmatched overview compared to other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Gregory, OK, hair follicle testing stands as a tamper-resistant testing method, dramatically reducing the chance of sample adulteration. This adds an extra layer of dependability to the test results, as hair samples are harder to manipulate compared to urine or saliva samples.

Due to its tamper-resistant nature, the reliability of hair follicle testing is unparalleled. Assurance in the authenticity of the sample collected means employers can trust the process to yield unquestionable results, ensuring integrity and accuracy in their drug testing protocols.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Gregory, OK benefits from the accessibility of nationwide testing locations provided by Accredited Drug Testing. Our expansive network allows for convenient and swift access to testing services across the country, ensuring ease for both employers and individuals.

Having readily accessible testing centers makes the process straightforward, enabling quick appointments near your location. This extensive reach across cities, including Gregory, OK, ensures hassle-free and efficient service, minimizing delays and inconvenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Experience a simple and confidential process for hair follicle testing in Gregory, OK. The ease of ordering, undertaking the test, and receiving results is designed with your privacy in mind, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.

For those concerned with confidentiality, our testing protocol guarantees a smooth process that maintains your privacy every step of the way. The streamlined system ensures that sensitive information remains protected, offering peace of mind throughout the testing procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Gregory, OK highlights affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, ensuring excellent value for businesses of all sizes. Our competitive pricing structure coupled with rapid result delivery creates an optimal balance of cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

Companies large and small can benefit from our commitment to keeping drug testing accessible without sacrificing speed or accuracy. With a clear focus on affordability and prompt results, we strive to provide outstanding service and satisfaction.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Gregory, OK, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their precision and promptness. Accurate and swift, these tests provide reliable insights into substance use. Their heightened ability to detect drugs quickly makes them an invaluable tool for employers aiming for swift and trustworthy results.

The benefits of choosing hair follicle testing include its exceptional precision in identifying substance use. Coupled with its speedy process, this method ensures that results are not only accurate but also delivered promptly, making it ideal for time-sensitive situations.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Gregory, OK, hair follicle testing offers significant benefits in compliance and peace of mind. By adopting this testing method, companies can ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating associated legal risks.

Implementing hair follicle testing assists in safeguarding workplace integrity. The assurance of compliance with drug-free policies strengthens trust within a company, enhancing overall safety and security while fostering a healthier work 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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