Hair Follicle Drug Testing - West Siloam Springs, OK

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has become regarded as an influential method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the strands. When taken near the scalp, the hair can reveal a detection window of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to send.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, a total of 150mg of the sample is suggested. It is advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is missing, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four vital phases in the laboratory procedure for processing a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the initial inclusion of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This phase ensures the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial swift assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to potentially dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive result must be substantiated to be legally credible. Any samples identified as presumptively positive during Screening require secondary verification.

In the event a sample registers presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction procedure. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a considerably lower concentration than through other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which outlines why hair drug analysis is among the most arduous methodologies to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples identified as presumptively positive are cleansed prior to confirmation when necessary. The comprehensive laboratory journey from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes evaluation under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeline: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use for up to three months, more than urine tests which have a shorter detection range.
• Increased resistance to tampering: It is considerably challenging to alter a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Offers historical insight: It can illustrate a pattern of drug intake over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent intake: It requires roughly 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally incurs more costs compared to other drug detection techniques.
• Variability in findings: Factors such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the evaluation targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

For those in West Siloam Springs, OK, hair follicle testing presents a superior alternative to traditional urine tests. Hair tests provide a broader detection window, ensuring substances are traced much more reliably over time. While urine tests offer convenience for recent use,

• hair tests identify use patterns extending months back
• ensure higher accuracy with reduced risk of tampering
• solidify trust in the testing process

Extended Detection Window

Employers in West Siloam Springs, OK, benefit from extended detection windows offered by hair follicle tests, which can go back as far as 90 days. This allows a deeper insight into a person’s drug use history, providing:

• a comprehensive substance profile
• better-informed hiring decisions

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Adulteration is a lesser concern with hair follicle tests in West Siloam Springs, OK. The tamper-resistant test method significantly reduces fraud risks that mar other testing forms. These advantages include:

• unquestionable integrity of samples
• secure and strict testing environments

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing makes it convenient for individuals in West Siloam Springs, OK to access their services, thanks to our nationwide and local testing locations. Whether you're in town or elsewhere, expect:

• ease of access to facilities
• quick and efficient testing experiences

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in West Siloam Springs, OK is both simple and confidential, from ordering to receiving results. Users can expect:

• a streamlined order process
• discreet testing ensuring privacy concerns are addressed

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Hair follicle testing in West Siloam Springs, OK is both affordable and boasts quick turnaround. Our commitment is to:

• provide cost-effective options for businesses
• deliver results quickly and efficiently

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Ensuring accurate and dependable results swiftly is crucial, and hair follicle tests excel in this aspect in West Siloam Springs, OK. Known for their precision and speed, these tests:

• deliver fast, verified outcomes
• detect substance use with high accuracy
• enhance trust in testing procedures

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Incorporating hair follicle testing ensures businesses in West Siloam Springs, OK comply with drug-free policies, boosting overall compliance and peace of mind.

• Such tests minimize legal risks
• Create safer workplaces

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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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