Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Meridian, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair examinations have gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term archive for alcohol and other substances by trapping biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair shaft. When taken close to the scalp, hair can yield around a 3-month period for detecting alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will accumulate 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, supplemental tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a matching amount of body hair may be utilized. When mentioning head hair, we specifically refer to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning constitutes the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This encompasses ensuring the sample is sealed and dispatched correctly, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any further data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage on most samples, a positive result needs validation to be court-admissible. Any samples that give a presumptive positive result during Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

If a sample yields a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and processed for Extraction. During this phase, substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is considered the most labor-intensive method.

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

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use up to 90 days, contrary to urine tests that have a briefer detection span.
• Resistance to manipulation: Cheating on a hair drug test is exceptionally difficult, ensuring more reliable results.
• Offers usage patterns: It can reveal a history of drug use over time, not merely recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to spot recent use: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth patterns can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests," the examination itself focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In the realm of drug testing, hair follicle testing stands out in Meridian, OK, for its superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests.
Hair tests are less likely to be tampered with, offering more reliable results.

Employers and institutions benefit from hair testing due to its long detection window, which urine tests lack.
This offers a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Meridian, OK, shine with their extended detection window.
They can trace drug use for up to 90 days, offering a clear view of an individual's substance use history.

This test provides employers with a comprehensive assessment of an applicant's or employee's substance use over a significant period, which urine tests cannot match.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Meridian, OK, hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant testing method that significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration.
This assures the provision of results that are reliable and unquestionable.

The direct observation during sample collection ensures the authenticity of the sample, enhancing confidence in the results obtained.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing services in Meridian, OK, are supported by numerous nationwide locations, offering convenient and quick access.
These centers ensure a hassle-free experience for anyone needing to undergo hair follicle testing.

Local facilities enable residents and businesses in Meridian to access testing without long waits, ensuring efficient and accessible testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Meridian, OK, is simple and confidential.
From ordering to obtaining results, every step is designed to uphold privacy and ease, addressing user concerns.

Understanding the importance of discretion, our confidential testing procedures ensure that privacy is maintained throughout, enhancing customer satisfaction.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing services in Meridian, OK, are known for affordable pricing and fast turnaround times.
Companies of all sizes benefit from our competitive pricing structure, which offers excellent value.

Balancing cost with speed, our services ensure that employers receive timely results, allowing businesses to maintain smooth operations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Meridian, OK, hair follicle drug tests are recognized for their fast and accurate results.
These tests provide a reliable method to detect substance use, ensuring timely results for employers and individuals alike.

With advancements in testing technologies, hair follicle tests now outperform traditional methods in both precision and speed.
Their ability to precisely identify substance use enhances trust and reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Meridian, OK, hair follicle testing assures compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
This method helps reduce legal risks and promotes a safer workplace environment through more reliable testing practices.

Adopting hair testing enhances peace of mind for employers, knowing they are minimizing substance-related workplace incidents effectively.

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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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