Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cedar Hills, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair shaft, hair offers an extended historical record of substance use. When collected near the scalp, hair can indicate alcohol and drug use for roughly three months. Hair collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and convenient for transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for testing and verification. For EtG, additional testing, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. Use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, equivalent body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the first step in integrating a sample into a lab's system. It involves confirming the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any required additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary, efficient method to detect drugs of abuse. Though cost-effective for negating drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples deemed presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If Screening suggests a presumptive positive, additional hair is taken from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from the hair at far lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which accounts for the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples undergo washing as needed. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is conducted under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Hard to deceive: The difficulty in cheating a hair drug test enhances accuracy.
• Tracks historical data: Provides a usage pattern over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs often become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more than alternative methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual hair growth variations can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests," the analysis examines the hair strand, not the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Cedar Hills, OR: Hair testing provides superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. In Cedar Hills, OR, hair tests offer extended detection windows and enhanced reliability.
Advantages of Hair Testing: Unlike urine tests, hair samples are less prone to tampering and provide a clearer picture of long-term drug use, offering employers significant insights.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Cedar Hills, OR: Hair follicle tests offer a remarkable detection period of up to 90 days. Employers benefit from a broader view of an individual's substance use history, facilitating informed decision-making.
Comprehensive Substance History: This extensive testing window is invaluable for assessing the long-term patterns of substance use, aiding in maintaining workplace standards.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Cedar Hills, OR: Hair follicle testing significantly reduces the chances of sample adulteration. In Cedar Hills, OR, this method ensures reliable and indisputable results, providing peace of mind.
Secure Sample Collection: The integrity of hair samples is maintained through watched collections, decreasing the likelihood of test manipulation and ensuring authenticity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Cedar Hills, OR: With centers all across the nation and locally in Cedar Hills, OR, accessing our testing services is quick and straightforward.
Hassle-Free Access: Our extensive network of testing locations provides easy and convenient access for those seeking testing services, ensuring efficient and straightforward processing.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Cedar Hills, OR: Our hair follicle testing process is not only straightforward but also respects privacy, ensuring confidential handling of all information.
Effortless Process: The ease of ordering, conducting, and receiving results is a key feature of our service, prioritizing user comfort and discretion at every step.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Cedar Hills, OR: Our competitive pricing and quick result delivery offer exceptional value, providing companies with cost-effective testing choices.
Cost-Effective Solutions: Businesses in Cedar Hills, OR, benefit from reasonably priced, prompt testing, ensuring thorough yet budget-friendly drug screening capability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Cedar Hills, OR: Hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their quick and precise results. In Cedar Hills, OR, these tests offer unmatched accuracy in identifying substance usage, making them a preferred choice for many.
Efficient Processing: The efficiency of the testing process ensures minimal waiting time, providing results that employers and individuals can trust without delays.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Cedar Hills, OR: Utilizing hair follicle testing helps ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This reduces legal risks and promotes a safe, compliant working environment.
Ensured Compliance: Employers in Cedar Hills, OR, can rely on these tests to uphold company policies and standards, fostering trust and security within the workplace.

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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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