Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kenefic, OK

What it is, How it works

Considered an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol use, hair testing offers a comprehensive look into substance consumption over an extended period. Hair acts as a reservoir for historical drug and alcohol indicators, embedding them within the hair strand as it grows. Collecting hair near the scalp can reveal substance use with approximately a three-month detection period. Hair is straightforward to gather, has a low susceptibility to tampering, and is convenient for transport.

Gathering a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands, or the width of a #2 pencil, near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which serves as the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional analysis, or panels surpassing 10, a 150mg sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for specimen measurement is suggested. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. Note that "head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, excluding other hair growths on the body like facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The drug testing process at a lab generally comprises four crucial phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary integration of a sample into a lab's workflow. This step includes confirming that the sample arrives sealed and intact, allocating a unique Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and finishing any residual data log not populated by an electronic custody chain.

Screening provides an initial evaluation for likely drug presence. Though cost-effective for excluding drug use in most cases, a positive screen requires validation for legal admissibility. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.

Presumptively positive samples during Screening involve taking additional hair from the original collection, preparing it for Extraction. This phase isolates drugs from hair at a substantially lower concentration compared to methods like urine or oral fluid, heightening the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmed positive screening tests undergo validation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation as appropriate. The entire Accessioning through Confirmation process adheres to inspection under CAP Hair accreditation and ISO / IEC 17025 certification standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended observation period: Hair tests can trace drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which detect over shorter periods.
• Reduced manipulation: It is notably challenging to deceive a hair drug test, resulting in more credible findings.
• Provides long-term usage patterns: Indicates drug habits over time, not merely recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent intake: Substances become noticeable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments are typically pricier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair properties like pigment and growth rate may influence drug metabolite levels detected.

Note: Referred to as "hair follicle tests," this procedure actually examines the strand of hair rather than the follicle itself beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Kenefic, OK, hair follicle tests outperform traditional urine tests in numerous ways. Their superior detection accuracy is unmatched, offering more reliable results
Unlike urine testing, hair follicle tests provide a much broader timeframe for detecting drug use, typically up to 90 days, allowing for a more comprehensive review of substance use habits.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle drug testing in Kenefic, OK, extends detection windows up to 90 days, far surpassing other methods.
This duration offers employers a thorough examination of an individual's substance use history, ensuring they can make informed decisions regarding potential employees or current staff.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One significant advantage of hair follicle testing in Kenefic, OK, is its tamper-resistant nature. By greatly reducing the possibility of sample adulteration, these tests deliver results that are dependable and credible.
This increased reliability is crucial for those requiring stringent substance use monitoring.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Kenefic, OK, testing convenience is maximized with our widespread network of testing centers. Whether local or nationwide, accessing our hair follicle testing services is straightforward, ensuring a quick and uncomplicated process.
This accessibility simplifies the logistics of securing reliable drug testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Kenefic, OK, is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering the test to undertaking it and receiving the results, every step respects privacy concerns and is user-friendly
Ensuring confidentiality and ease, it addresses both practicality and privacy effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Kenefic, OK, our hair follicle testing is competitively priced to provide excellent value for companies of all sizes.
Alongside affordability, swift results further ensure peace of mind, reinforcing the balance of cost-efficiency and quick turnaround times for drug testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and swiftness of hair follicle testing ensure highly accurate results in Kenefic, OK. Compared to traditional methods, hair tests provide a rapid and reliable way to detect substance use, giving users confidence in the results.
The efficiency of this testing model guarantees quick detection of drug traces and alcohol, enabling timely and accurate assessments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Kenefic, OK employers, hair follicle testing ensures strict adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This testing method minimizes legal risks while enhancing overall workplace safety and compliance
Providing peace of mind, it supports a secure and productive work environment for all employees.

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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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