Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hartshorne, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as a significant approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-standing record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the actively growing hair strand. When sourced near the scalp, hair offers a roughly 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is effortless to obtain, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 strands of hair (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the ideal quantity for analysis and validation. For EtG, supplements, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We suggest measuring the specimen on a precision balance. If scalp hair is absent, a similar amount of body hair can be used. By "head hair," we mean only scalp hair. "Body hair" encompasses all other hair (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary four stages in the laboratory procedure of generating a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the primary handling of a specimen within a lab’s system. It entails confirming the sample was securely sealed and sent correctly, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any added data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening serves as an initial swift evaluation for drugs. Though Screening is an economical method to exclude drug presence in the majority of samples, a positive result needs verification to be court-admissible. Any samples that show presumptive positive findings in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

On registering a presumptive positive at the Screening phase, further hair is drawn from the original sample and set for Extraction. Here, drugs are retrieved from hair at notably lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which underlines why hair drug screening is one of the most technically challenging methods.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating presumptive positives undergo washing prior to confirmation if required. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 norms.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, compared to the briefer detection span of urine tests.
• Hard to bypass: It is very arduous to circumvent a hair drug test, which enhances the accuracy of the outcomes.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal a pattern of drug usage over time and not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to spot recent consumption: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the test solely examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In comparison to conventional urine tests, hair follicle testing in Hartshorne, OK, stands out due to its unmatched detection accuracy and dependability. With hair tests, a more comprehensive analysis of long-term substance use can be obtained, providing a clearer picture over traditional urine tests, thus offering an enhanced level of scrutiny.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing, up to 90 days, presents a significant advantage in Hartshorne, OK, by allowing employers a detailed perspective on an applicant or employee's substance history. This prolonged period facilitates a thorough understanding of ongoing substance use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Hartshorne, OK, offer a testing approach that substantially minimizes the risk of tampering. This method safeguards the legitimacy of results, preventing common adulteration tactics associated with other specimen types, thus ensuring integrity and accuracy of the samples.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Available nationwide, our testing centers, including those in Hartshorne, OK, promise quick and convenient access to testing services. Our widespread locations simplify the testing process, allowing you to experience a hassle-free and efficient service wherever you are situated.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Hartshorne, OK, the procedure for ordering, conducting, and obtaining results from a hair follicle test is straightforward and confidential. We prioritize privacy and ease-of-use, making the entire process transparent and stress-free for all involved parties.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing structures paired with rapid turnaround times in Hartshorne, OK, provide exceptional value for companies regardless of size. We emphasize both affordability and efficiency, ensuring your needs are met with top-tier service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Hartshorne, OK, hair follicle drug testing is known for its swift and consistent results, ensuring high precision in identifying substance use. This testing method offers superior accuracy, delivering trustworthy outcomes in a timely manner, making it an exceptional choice for those prioritizing efficient and reliable detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Opting for hair follicle testing in Hartshorne, OK, ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies, providing employers with peace of mind. This testing option significantly diminishes legal and safety risks by offering a reliable means of verifying compliance with established drug use guidelines.

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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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