Hair Follicle Drug Testing - New Woodville, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a potent technique for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair conserves a historical record of alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers in the threads of the growing hair strand. When extracted near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is effortless to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (about the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for evaluation and verification. For EtG, supplemental tests, and/or assessments beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When referring to head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair covers all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab's framework. This involves ensuring that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody setup.

Screening includes an initial rapid analysis for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is an economical method to dismiss drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in court. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening need a subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample appear positive in the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower levels than in other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug screening is the most challenging method to execute.

The verification of any positive screening result is completed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All preliminary positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as needed. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection span.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely hard, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Supplies historical information: It can display a pattern of drug usage over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: It generally requires 5-7 days for drugs to become discernible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are often more costly than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In New Woodville, OK, hair follicle testing effectively surpasses traditional urine tests in several ways. Hair tests provide a long-term view of substance usage, unlike urine tests that are limited to recent consumption. Moreover, the superiority of hair tests in terms of detection accuracy ensures employers receive reliable data on applicants or employees.

Standard urine tests often fall short in identifying long-standing substance issues. Hair follicle tests fill this gap by offering a comprehensive overview of drug usage over time, assisting employers in making informed decisions.

Extended Detection Window

The ability of hair follicle drug tests in New Woodville, OK, to detect substance use for up to 90 days offers a significant advantage. Employers looking for a historical perspective on drug consumption find invaluable insights that other testing methods can't provide.

A hair test extends beyond standard timelines, revealing a more comprehensive overview of substance use. This extended detection window aids in evaluating an individual's behavior over a substantial period, vital for risk assessment in employment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method in New Woodville, OK, is renowned for its tamper-resistant qualities, drastically reducing the potential for sample adulteration. This reliability ensures the authenticity of each test, delivering results that are trustworthy and precise.

Attempts to alter urine samples are often successful, but the nature of hair testing negates such possibilities. This aspect provides unquestionable results, securing a higher standard of testing integrity for all concerned parties.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With Accredited Drug Testing, New Woodville, OK, benefits from a network of convenient testing locations nationwide. This dissemination of centers presents an easy and accessible option for those in need, simplifying the logistics of securing a test.

Local availability ensures that New Woodville residents can promptly access testing services, receiving the same level of service and efficiency found nationwide. This ease of access underscores our commitment to client convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair testing in New Woodville, OK, remains simple and confidential, ensuring privacy at every stage, from ordering to receiving results. The steps are streamlined to enter seamlessly into one's routine without offering concerns over personal data exposure.

By maintaining a high standard of confidentiality, individuals are assured their information remains secure throughout. This trustworthy procedure encourages transparency and removes any barriers to testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In New Woodville, OK, our affordable pricing structure makes hair follicle testing accessible to businesses of all sizes without compromising quality. Fast turnaround times add value, providing critical results in a timely manner, essential for swift decision-making processes.

Our competitive pricing coupled with efficient service reflects a cost-effective solution for comprehensive drug testing needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in New Woodville, OK, assures fast, accurate, and reliable results, highlighting its precision in substance detection. These tests are designed to efficiently pinpoint drug use, ensuring dependable outcomes each time. The confidence in accurate findings makes hair testing a trusted method among professionals.

The swift nature of hair follicle testing allows rapid diagnostics, vital for decision-making in employment and legal scenarios. The tests' accuracy refines the reliability of results, thus eliminating doubts about the integrity of the process.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Incorporating hair follicle testing into New Woodville, OK, workplaces guarantees compliance with drug-free policies, reducing employer's legal vulnerabilities. It brings a sense of peace of mind, enhancing workplace safety without compromising accuracy.

Hair tests help employers uphold strict policies against drug use, instilling confidence in surveillance measures. By mitigating risks associated with non-compliance, businesses fortify their operational integrity and legal standing.

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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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