Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ashwood, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair examinations are now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of these substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair shaft. Collecting hair close to the scalp provides up to a 90-day detection frame for these substances. Gathering hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and effortless to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion consisting of around 200 hairs (comparable in width to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both initial screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplementary tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. We advise weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, an equal quantity of body hair can be used. Referencing head hair indicates scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a sample within a laboratory's system. This step confirms that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data entry not supplied via an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Though a cost-effective approach to rule out drug consumption in most samples, any positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in a legal setting. Samples initially showing positive in Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. Here, drug substances are pulled from hair at concentrations much lower than those found in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples showing presumptive positives are cleaned prior to Confirmation as needed. The comprehensive laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation alongside accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection time: Hair drug tests can trace drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which track shorter periods.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring results are more reliable.
• Historical insight: It offers a timeline of drug utilization over a longer duration, rather than just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Not applicable for recent use: It requires roughly 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Price: Hair drug tests typically cost more than alternative testing methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

For those seeking superior reliability in Ashwood, OR, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests. It boasts a much longer detection window, reaching up to 90 days post-use. Meanwhile, urine tests often miss infrequent or older drug intake, compromising accuracy.

Unlike urine tests, which can be manipulated, hair testing provides a stable medium for analysis, as substances incorporated in hair remain detectable long after use. This unwavering precision ensures confidence in results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Ashwood, OR offers an extended detection timeframe, uncovering substance use patterns over the past 90 days. Through this method, employers can obtain a more detailed overview of an individual’s drug history, surpassing the limitations of shorter-range tests like urine samples.

Such a prolonged detection capability provides organizations the assurance that applicants and employees have adhered to drug-free standards over a significant period, enhancing workplace security and trustworthiness.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Ashwood, OR, hair follicle tests are instrumental in preventing sample tampering. Unlike urine samples, which can be altered, hair samples provide a tamper-resistant means of drug detection. This ensures the integrity of test results and builds confidence in their validity.

The refined process of hair testing guards against common adulteration tactics, delivering results that are trusted by legal systems and employers alike, as it eliminates discrepancies often associated with alternative testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Ashwood, OR, the convenience of nationwide testing locations makes accessing drug testing services straightforward and hassle-free. Accredited Drug Testing offers a widespread network of centers, ensuring that individuals and employers can easily find a nearby site for quick and efficient testing.

This accessibility eliminates the obstacles of long-distance travel for testing, thereby streamlining the process for users needing swift compliance with employment or legal requirements.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Ashwood, OR is designed to be simple and confidential, reassuring users of their privacy every step of the way. Ordering a test, providing a sample, and receiving the results is straightforward, eliminating unnecessary complexity.

Our commitment to confidentiality ensures that both individuals and organizations are protected, with secure handling of sensitive information, making the testing experience stress-free and private.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable pricing on hair follicle testing in Ashwood, OR, combined with fast turnaround times to meet the needs of all company sizes. Our competitive rates ensure that high-quality testing is accessible without breaking the budget.

Tasked with delivering value, we commit to swift delivery of test outcomes, enabling firms to make prompt, informed decisions without financial strain, reflecting both efficiency and economy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Ashwood, OR offer fast, precise, and dependable results. The high level of accuracy ensures that even minimal traces of substances can be detected, providing clear insight into abuse patterns. With rapid turnaround times, individuals and organizations can make well-informed decisions promptly.

The swift processing time of hair tests means you won't be waiting long for answers. This rapid response is crucial for employers and legal entities needing quick verification of a subject's drug use history or evaluating compliance with policy regulations.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employing hair follicle testing in Ashwood, OR offers employers the assurance of compliance with drug-free workplace mandates. This method minimizes legal liabilities while boosting workplace safety by ensuring employees adhere to zero-tolerance drug policies.

By trusting in hair testing, companies not only align with regulatory requirements but also promote a culture of accountability and well-being, providing peace of mind that their workforce is upholding the highest standards of conduct.

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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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