Hair Follicle Drug Testing - South Latimer, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term evidence of substances by embedding biomarkers within its strands. When sourced close to the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use history for up to a 3-month period. This provides a test medium that is easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

Collecting a 1.5-inch segment comprising around 200 hair strands (similar to the width of a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields 100mg of hair, ideal for both initial screenings and confirmatory tests. For assessments involving EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent volume of body hair may be used as an alternative. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result encompasses Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase of processing a sample into the laboratory system. This stage involves verifying proper sealing and shipping, generating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. It is an economical method for excluding drug presence in most samples, yet a positive screening necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptive positives obtained during Screening mandate a secondary confirmatory test.

Should a Screening result be presumptively positive, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for further analysis in the Extraction stage. At this point, the drug substances are isolated from the hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other testing methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which is why hair testing presents unique challenges.

Confirmation of any positive result from Screening is undertaken via techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are subjected to a washing process as needed before Confirmation. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen according to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can reveal drug usage up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• High resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is challenging, thus enhancing result reliability.
• Broad usage history: It reveals a pattern of drug usage across time, not only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Typically, 5-7 days are required for drugs to register in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Variability in results: Factors such as hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", this test analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The advantages of hair follicle testing over urine tests in South Latimer, OK, are clear as hair testing offers superior detection accuracy. The longer detection window enables a broad view of an individual's drug use history, surpassing the capability of a urine test.

Despite urine tests being standard, hair tests are more reliable, avoiding the issues common with urine samples, such as substitution or adulteration, making them the preferred choice for rigorous testing needs.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in South Latimer, OK, provide an extended detection period that tracks substance use for up to 90 days. This expanded window offers employers a broader perspective on employee drug use, enhancing the decision-making process.

This long-term detection capability makes hair testing an essential tool for maintaining drug-free environments, giving a comprehensive assessment of behavior over time.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In South Latimer, OK, hair follicle testing drastically reduces tampering risks, offering assured and trustworthy results. Unlike urine samples, hair tests are resistant to common adulteration methods.

The resilience of hair samples against tampering provides clients with confidence in the accuracy and authenticity of drug test outcomes, ensuring a trustworthy testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing centers nationwide, including South Latimer, OK, accessing hair follicle testing services is convenient and hassle-free. Our widespread locations ensure that testing needs are met promptly and efficiently.

This accessibility to testing facilities helps individuals and employers conduct necessary tests without delay, supporting timely and effective drug screening efforts.

Simple, Confidential Process

In South Latimer, OK, the process for hair follicle testing is straightforward and ensures confidentiality. From ordering to test completion, each step prioritizes ease of use and privacy.

This simple and discreet procedure alleviates concerns over personal data handling, allowing individuals and companies to engage in drug testing with confidence and clarity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing for hair follicle testing in South Latimer, OK, coupled with rapid turnaround times, delivers remarkable value for businesses of all sizes.

The combination of cost-effectiveness and prompt results ensures that employers can efficiently manage their drug testing requirements without compromising on quality or timeliness.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in South Latimer, OK, offers fast and reliable results, ensuring high accuracy in detecting substance use. This method allows for efficient processing, providing timely insights into drug consumption behavior.

Employers and organizations rely on hair follicle testing for its precision, as it accurately identifies substances in the system, ensuring integrity in drug testing processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

By utilizing hair follicle testing in South Latimer, OK, employers ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies, greatly reducing potential legal challenges.

This testing approach enhances workplace safety and provides peace of mind, knowing that comprehensive and reliable drug screening measures are in place, contributing to a secure working environment.

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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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