Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Nescatunga, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for detecting substance and alcohol usage. The strands of hair encapsulate biomarkers within their fibers, offering a prolonged overview of alcohol and drug usage. If gathered near the scalp, hair can reflect a detection span of up to approximately three months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, presenting challenges to tampering, and is also convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches of about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred sample size for testing and validation. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is suggested. We advise determining the sample's weight using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When we reference head hair, only scalp hair is included. Body hair covers all other types such as facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning signifies the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s workflow. This step ensures the sealed condition and correct shipment of the sample, allocates a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes additional data entry not captured by an electronic custody system.

Screening serves as an initial rapid examination for substance abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient means to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screen mandates confirmation to be court admissible. Samples showing presumptive positives require further confirmation.

Should a sample reflect a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, extra hair is drawn from the original sample and set for Extraction. Here, the drug is isolated from the hair in significantly lesser concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), illustrating why hair drug testing is notably complex.

Confirming any positive screening outcome is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as needed. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair framework and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug usage over a 90-day period, unlike urine tests with shorter detection times.
• Challenging to falsify: The difficulty in deceiving a hair drug test enhances result reliability.
• Offers historical data: It can reveal patterns of drug use, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Fails to spot recent use: Drugs need about 5-7 days to become evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other testing techniques.
• Results variability: Elements like hair color or individual growth rates can influence metabolite amounts in hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Nescatunga, OK

Hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. It provides superior detection accuracy and reliability, capturing a more extended drug use history and reducing the chances of undetected substance intake.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Nescatunga, OK

With hair follicle testing in Nescatunga, OK, employers gain an extensive overview of an individual's substance behavior. This is possible due to the detection capability covering up to 90 days, revealing long-term drug usage patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Nescatunga, OK

Hair follicle tests in Nescatunga, OK, are designed to minimize the risk of sample tampering. Their robust collection and testing processes ensure that results are accurate and indisputable.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Nescatunga, OK

Testing with us in Nescatunga, OK, is hassle-free, thanks to our extensive network of nationwide testing centers. This accessibility ensures a smooth experience for those needing quick and easy drug testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Nescatunga, OK

In Nescatunga, OK, the process for ordering, conducting, and receiving results of hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential. Our approach respects privacy concerns while maintaining ease of use for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Nescatunga, OK

Our competitive pricing and fast result turnover in Nescatunga, OK, make hair follicle testing a valuable and efficient option for businesses, ensuring cost-effective solutions that cater to all company sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Nescatunga, OK

Hair follicle drug tests in Nescatunga, OK, are renowned for their high precision and expeditious results when detecting substance use. The accuracy of these tests ensures that the results are dependable and comprehensive, offering a detailed insight into an individual's drug use history with quick turnaround times to meet urgent needs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Nescatunga, OK

Employers in Nescatunga, OK, can achieve peace of mind and ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies by utilizing hair follicle testing, which reduces legal vulnerabilities and bolsters workplace safety.

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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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