Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Quinton, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now considered a crucial method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record of substance use by preserving biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and other substances. Additionally, it is easy to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg, an ideal amount for initial testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for accurate measurement. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. When we say head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair only, whereas body hair includes all other types (facial, underarm, etc.).

Procedure Overview

The laboratory analysis of a drug test result involves four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory's process. This step checks the secure sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and finalizes any additional data input not covered by an electronic custody tracking system.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective approach to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive screen still needs verification for legal acceptability. Any sample flagged as presumptively positive during Screening requires further verification.

Should a sample test presumptively positive in the Screening stage, additional hair is retrieved from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at far lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis one of the most challenging procedures.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positive specimens are cleansed prior to verification, as needed. The whole laboratory procedure, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, is assessed under both the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Hair criteria and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug analysis:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, whereas urine tests provide a narrower detection window.
• Challenging to falsify: It is quite challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, leading to increasingly reliable results.
• Offers historical insight: Provides a record of drug use patterns over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Challenges:

• Unable to detect recent use: Detection in hair generally takes around 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests," the actual analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Quinton, OK, is superior to more conventional urine tests due to its enhanced detection accuracy and reliability. Employers and legal bodies favor hair testing because of its long detection window and difficulty to tamper with, offering a more comprehensive view of drug history than urine tests. This method assures precise and trustworthy results, which is critical for effective substance monitoring.

Extended Detection Window

In Quinton, OK, the hair follicle testing method provides a much longer period of detecting drug use, up to 90 days. This extended window allows employers to gain a detailed view of an individual's substance history, compared to the limited short-term detection capabilities of urine tests. As such, hair testing gives a comprehensive understanding of an employee or applicant's long-term drug use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing performed in Quinton, OK, greatly reduces the potential for sample tampering. The nature of observed collections makes it difficult to alter samples, ensuring credible and uncompromised results. For organizations demanding reliable drug testing outcomes, hair follicle methods establish a trustworthy standard by significantly mitigating the risk of adulteration.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures convenient testing access for individuals in Quinton, OK, with our local and nationwide centers. Our widespread network offers easy and swift scheduling of hair follicle tests, providing flexibility and ease of access. Clients benefit from the straightforward location processes, making their testing experience hassle-free and comfortable.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Quinton, OK is designed to be simple and confidential. From arranging testing to obtaining results, every step ensures customer privacy and ease of use. The quick, anonymous system assures that personal information remains protected, catering to clients' preferences for discretion while delivering reliable outcomes.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our services in Quinton, OK, emphasize affordability alongside quick turnaround times. Competitive pricing structures meet the needs of businesses regardless of size, offering excellent value. Companies benefit from our efficient testing procedures, providing both economic and seamless solutions for comprehensive drug and alcohol testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Quinton, OK, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its precision and speed in detecting substance use. This method offers fast and accurate results, ensuring that employers receive reliable data regarding a person's recent drug activity. The high level of accuracy in these tests provides a dependable assessment of substance use, surpassing many traditional testing methods by a substantial margin.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Quinton, OK employers, hair follicle testing helps ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies. Utilizing hair testing minimizes legal risks associated with illicit substance use in the workplace and fosters a safer work environment. By choosing this method, organizations can strengthen their commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace, thereby enhancing overall safety and productivity.

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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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