Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Columbia City, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is perceived as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When collected near the scalp, it can yield roughly a three-month detection window for drugs and alcohol. Hair is easy to gather, fairly resistant to tampering, and convenient to ship.

A 1.5-inch lock of about 200 hairs (comparable to a #2 pencil) from the scalp gives 100mg, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG tests, additional screenings, or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is lacking, a similar quantity of body hair can be taken. “Head hair” strictly refers to scalp hair. “Body hair” pertains to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for a drug test result comprises four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial integration of a sample into the lab system. This step verifies that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and handles any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening entails an initial rapid test for drug abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective method for eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for court admissibility. Presumptively positive samples in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is labeled presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening a challenging methodology.

Confirmation of a positive screening result is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited under ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days, compared to the shorter detection period of urine tests.
• Hard to deceive: It is very challenging to cheat a hair drug test, leading to more accurate outcomes.
• Shows historical usage: It can display a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent consumption: Drugs take around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand itself, not the follicle under the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When it comes to drug testing in Columbia City, OR, hair follicle testing clearly surpasses urine testing. Unlike traditional methods, hair testing offers an enhanced detection period and a tamper-proof process. Employers and legal bodies benefit from the extended insight into drug use that hair tests afford, often reaching back 90 days, ensuring accurate and reliable results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Columbia City, OR, offers an extended detection window that reaches up to 90 days. This makes it an invaluable tool for employers seeking detailed insights into an employee’s or candidate's drug use history. By capturing a broad spectrum of substance usage over a longer timeframe, hair testing grants a more comprehensive assessment than other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Columbia City, OR, hair follicle testing serves as an effective tamper-resistant method. By significantly limiting opportunities for adulteration, this testing ensures reliable results, offering peace of mind to employers and authorities relying on the test outcomes. The difficulty to cheat the test enhances its integrity and trustworthiness.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our comprehensive network of convenient testing locations, including those in Columbia City, OR, ensures immediate and hassle-free access to services. With centers spread nationwide, individuals can easily find local centers that accommodate their scheduling needs, emphasizing ease and efficiency in the testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Columbia City, OR, is designed to be simple and confidential. From the point of ordering to the receipt of results, every step is streamlined to respect privacy while ensuring straightforward access. This approach addresses concerns about ease of use and confidentiality effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround in Columbia City, OR, our hair follicle drug testing services provide excellent value. Competitive pricing structures combined with quick processing times deliver cost-efficient and timely results, catering to companies of various sizes seeking reliable testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Columbia City, OR, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results. The method’s precision ensures substances are detected with high accuracy, making it a preferred choice for comprehensive screenings. Compared to other methods, hair testing provides a precise evaluation of substance use, affirming its position as a superior diagnostic tool.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle tests in Columbia City, OR, provides employers with the compliance and peace of mind needed to enforce drug-free workplace policies. These tests minimize legal risks and bolster workplace safety by ensuring adherence to employment standards, thus protecting businesses and employees alike.

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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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