Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Burlington, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as a valuable means for identifying alcohol and drug use. By embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair, it reflects a prolonged history of substance consumption. Collected from the scalp area, it can reveal substance use over a span of nearly three months. Hair collection is straightforward, resilient against tampering, and easily transportable.

Collecting a 1.5-inch sample of around 200 hairs (similar to a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields 100mg, considered the optimal quantity for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and analyses surpassing 10 panels, 150mg is suggested. A jeweler’s scale is optimal for weighing the sample. In the absence of scalp hair, body hair of equivalent weight may be used. "Head hair" specifically denotes hair from the scalp, while "body hair" encompasses other types such as facial or underarm.

Process Overview

The drug test result process in the lab comprises Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation as its primary stages.

Accessioning entails the first phase where a sample is processed into the lab's framework. This step includes verifying the sample's proper sealing and shipment, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing additional data inputs absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for consumed substances. Though cost-effective for dismissing drug use in most cases, a positive result necessitates confirmation to stand in legal settings. Samples preliminarily positive in Screening must undergo further confirmation.

For any Screening-identified positive sample, the existing specimen undergoes additional hair extraction for the Extraction phase. Here, substances are retrieved from hair at substantially lower concentrations than other methods such as urine or oral fluid, highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing techniques.

Confirmation of positive screening is managed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples preliminarily positive receive washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is vetted by both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and accreditation under ISO / IEC 17025 guidelines.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeline: Capable of tracing substance use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter timelines.
• Hard to falsify: The high degree of difficulty in cheating a hair drug test reinforces result accuracy.
• Supplies usage history: Capable of indicating a pattern of drug consumption over time, beyond merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect immediate use: It takes about 5-7 days for substances to become apparent in hair.
• Expense: Generally more costly than other methods of drug testing.
• Result variance: Elements such as hair hue and individual hair growth differences can influence metabolite concentration readings in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed as "hair follicle tests," the examination targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Burlington, OR, provides superior advantages over traditional urine tests. With a longer detection window and enhanced accuracy, hair tests offer more reliable results. Their ability to catch drug use across months, rather than days, positions them as the preferred choice for thorough and dependable detection.

Extended Detection Window

In Burlington, OR, hair follicle testing stands out due to its extended detection window. Capable of identifying substance use up to 90 days back, this test offers employers a detailed insight into an individual's substance use history, ensuring comprehensive evaluation and decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Burlington, OR, greatly reduces sample adulteration risks. This testing method guarantees results that are both reliable and indisputable, providing unparalleled peace of mind and accuracy to all parties involved in the process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Burlington, OR, benefits from the convenience of nationwide testing centers that offer hassle-free access to drug testing services. With local locations available throughout the area, individuals can easily and swiftly undergo testing, simplifying the process significantly.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our testing process in Burlington, OR, is simple and confidential, from ordering to receiving results. The privacy and ease of this method address any concerns, ensuring a seamless experience. Clients appreciate the straightforward approach, highlighting effortless completion and security.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Burlington, OR, our competitive pricing and quick turnaround provide excellent value for businesses of all sizes. The affordability of our hair follicle testing services complements their fast results, ensuring companies get dependable drug screening without excessive costs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Burlington, OR, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their precision and swiftness. These tests offer high accuracy, efficiently detecting substance use across various situations. Their reliability ensures confidence in the results, making them an invaluable tool for thorough drug screening.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Burlington, OR, gain peace of mind by opting for hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This compliance helps decrease legal risks while simultaneously enhancing workplace safety and fostering a secure and productive 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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