Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Texhoma, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now viewed as an effective mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures a prolonged record of substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer roughly a 90-day detection period for substances. Collecting hair is easy, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for precise specimen measurement is suggested. If scalp hair cannot be sourced, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. 'Head hair' exclusively refers to scalp hair. 'Body hair' encompasses all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial process where a sample is logged into the lab's system. It involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid examination for substances of abuse. While screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, any positive result must be verified to be court-admissible. Samples that are tentatively positive in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

For a sample testing presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is prepared and extracted from the original sample. In this step, drugs are obtained from the hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to conduct.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods confirm any positive screening results. All samples that are tentatively positive are washed prior to confirmation as required. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation follows both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify substance use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Cheating resistance: Hair drug tests are very tough to deceive, thereby providing more reliable results.
• Provides historical insights: It can reveal a timeline of drug use over several months, rather than recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapability to identify recent use: Drugs take around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Considerations like hair color and individual hair growth rate can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", this test actually evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Texhoma, OK, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in several aspects. While urine tests typically detect recent drug usage, hair tests provide a superior detection window, capturing a person’s substance history over an extended period. They also offer greater accuracy and reliability, reducing the likelihood of false negatives or false positives.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Texhoma, OK offer an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This feature provides employers with a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance use patterns, making it an invaluable tool for assessing long-term habits rather than short-term behavior, thereby enhancing informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Texhoma, OK sees a significant decrease in sample adulteration risks with hair follicle tests. These tests provide reliable and unquestionable results, as they are collected in an observed setting, making it nearly impossible to tamper with the sample. This security is invaluable in maintaining integrity in drug testing results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient access to testing facilities nationwide, including local options in Texhoma, OK. Our centers ensure quick, easy, and hassle-free testing services, allowing individuals and employers to conduct essential drug testing without the burden of extensive travel or logistical complications.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple and confidential, the hair follicle testing process in Texhoma, OK prioritizes privacy and ease. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step is designed to be straightforward. This ensures that user privacy is respected, making the experience stress-free and efficient for all parties involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Texhoma, OK, we provide competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing. Our services offer excellent value, ensuring companies of all sizes can access reliable drug testing solutions without breaking the bank, fostering peace of mind with cost-effectiveness and prompt service delivery.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled in Texhoma, OK. This method boasts a high level of accuracy in detecting substance use, providing rapid and reliable results that are critical for time-sensitive decisions. Employers and agencies can trust this efficient process to deliver timely insights into an individual’s drug use history.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Texhoma, OK find peace of mind and compliance with drug-free workplace policies via hair follicle testing. This method reduces the risk of legal complications and enhances workplace safety. It assures adherence to regulations, providing both security for the company and a safe environment for employees.

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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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