Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Southeast Washita, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a vital method for spotting substance and alcohol use. Hair retains a prolonged history of these by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. Hair, when sampled near the scalp, can potentially reveal up to around a 3-month span of alcohol and drug detection. Hair is straightforward to collect, moderately hard to tamper with, and easy to dispatch.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For testing beyond 10 panels, EtG, or additional tests, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning handles the initial process of integrating a sample into the laboratory’s system. This process includes assuring that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening acts as a preliminary swift assessment for substance misuse. Although a cost-effective approach to exclude drug consumption in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be legally accepted. Samples yielding presumptive positive findings in Screening must undergo further confirmation.

When a sample shows presumptive positivity during the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction preparation. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting the challenge of hair drug screening methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples showing presumptive positivity undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The whole laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation along with the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can determine drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Limited scope for deception: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Historical data provision: Offers an overview of drug usage trends over a period, rather than merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Detecting drugs in hair takes roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Aspects like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair strand rather than the follicle itself beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle and urine drug tests, hair testing in Southeast Washita, OK emerges as the superior option.
Unlike urine tests, hair follicle testing provides a longer detection window and is less prone to manipulations. This ensures true accuracy in showcasing an individual's drug history.
This makes it a preferred choice for employers and agencies seeking consistent and reliable substance use testing results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing presents a notable advantage due to its 90-day detection window, offering a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history in Southeast Washita, OK.
This extended period provides employers with the necessary data to make well-informed decisions about their workforce, ensuring safety and compliance.
Employers benefit from understanding potential risks, enabling better management of their drug-free workplace policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing is inherently tamper-resistant, significantly minimizing the potential for adulteration of samples in Southeast Washita, OK.
This reliability makes it an ideal choice for ensuring unquestionable results in any testing scenario.
The supervised collection process further reinforces the test's credibility, trusted by courts, employers, and professionals for its resistance to tampering and manipulations.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing’s extensive network of facilities ensures convenient testing locations both nationally and locally in Southeast Washita, OK.
Access to these centers is simple and hassle-free, providing individuals and employers with an effortless solution to their testing needs.
Quick and easy availability makes it possible to maintain schedules without compromising on the quality and reliability of the testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

Ordering, taking, and obtaining results from a hair follicle test in Southeast Washita, OK is designed to be straightforward and confidential.
Accredited Drug Testing ensures privacy and ease of use at every step.
This user-friendly process addresses any concerns individuals may have about testing, offering a discreet solution that respects patient confidentiality while delivering reliable outcomes.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing structure and quick turnaround times make hair follicle testing an affordable option in Southeast Washita, OK.
This service provides excellent value, catering to companies of all sizes.
Fast results and cost-efficient testing help organizations manage their drug testing budgets effectively without compromising on quality, ensuring they receive great service and peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Southeast Washita, OK offers unmatched precision and speed. This testing method ensures highly accurate results by detecting even trace amounts of substance use.
The quick turnaround time is a testament to the test's reliability, making it a preferred option for employers and individuals seeking fast answers. It's an efficient way to obtain dependable data on substance consumption, protecting both the individual and organizational interests.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Southeast Washita, OK, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free regulations.
This testing method significantly reduces legal risks while promoting a safer work environment.
Employers benefit from peace of mind knowing they’re upholding standards that help protect employees and the business from potential drug-related issues, fostering a benchmark of professionalism and care.

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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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