Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Crescent, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a potent instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the growing hair strands. By collecting hair near the scalp, it can offer a detection span of up to about 3 months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to alteration, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion containing approximately 200 strands of hair (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest measuring the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair may be collected. In reference to head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair indicates all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory's system. This involves ensuring the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and handling any additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary swift assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method for negating drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be considered in legal settings. Samples with a presumptive positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which accounts for the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcomes is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection window.
• Difficulty to cheat: It is exceedingly challenging to cheat a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Provides historical data: It offers a pattern of drug use over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Aspects such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the hair follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Crescent, OR

Hair follicle drug testing stands out against traditional urine tests due to its superior detection abilities. It provides a longer detection window, offering better insight into substance use patterns. This method diminishes anomalies common in urine testing, ensuring Crescent, OR businesses maintain the integrity of their drug testing programs.

Unlike urine tests, hair follicle testing is nearly impossible to tamper with, delivering accurate, trustworthy results. This method empowers Crescent, OR employers with the data needed to make informed staffing decisions, ultimately fostering a safer and more productive work environment.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Crescent, OR

Hair follicle drug testing is unbeatable when it comes to the detection timeline, extending up to 90 days. This window offers an in-depth assessment of an individual’s historical substance use, surpassing the limited scope provided by urine tests in both duration and detail, making it invaluable for Crescent, OR employers committed to substantiating a drug-free workplace.

By examining hair samples, employers gain a comprehensive view of an applicant or employee's drug usage over the past three months. This extensive window ensures no troubling patterns of drug use are overlooked, fortifying Crescent, OR's commitment to maintaining high workplace standards.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Crescent, OR

Hair follicle testing is celebrated for its resistance to tampering. Unlike other methods, it drastically reduces the potential for manipulation, making it an excellent choice for consistent and incontestable results. Crescent, OR employers can rely on the integrity of hair drug tests to uphold their drug-free policies unequivocally.

The methodology of hair testing rules out the common adulteration tactics associated with urine tests. This enhances the credibility and trustworthiness of the results. Crescent, OR's businesses can thus enforce stringent compliance measures while safeguarding against fraudulent acts.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Crescent, OR

Accredited Drug Testing offers unparalleled convenience with testing centers located nationwide, including in Crescent, OR. This ensures swift and seamless access to our services for businesses and individuals, streamlining the drug testing process whether local or elsewhere in the U.S.

This expansive network supports ease of scheduling, and ensures that testing is carried out with minimum hassle, catering to the diverse needs of employees and employers. The availability of local and national centers enhances accessibility to reliable drug testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Crescent, OR

The hair follicle drug testing procedure is straightforward, maintaining robust confidentiality from order to results. Every step is designed to protect personal privacy, offering Crescent, OR residents peace of mind throughout the testing process, affirming confidentiality and simplicity as core to our service proposition.

From ordering a test to receiving the results, the entire process is tailored to eliminate cumbersome procedures, ensuring speed and discretion. Crescent, OR clients experience a seamless service that respects privacy while delivering precise results promptly and discreetly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Crescent, OR

Accredited Drug Testing provides cost-effective pricing structures without compromising quality or speed, tailored to fit the budget of all business sizes in Crescent, OR. Our fast turnaround ensures results are delivered quickly, minimizing downtime and aligning with business operational needs effectively.

Value-driven and competitively priced, our services promise exceptional cost efficiency. With rapid result processing, Crescent, OR employers benefit from timely access to information that aids in decisive action, maintaining the continuum of workplace function efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Crescent, OR

Hair follicle drug testing is renowned for its precision and speed. Leveraging sophisticated technology, it detects drug use with remarkable accuracy, ensuring reliable outcomes. This method not only verifies substance abuse but also confirms abstinence, offering employers in Crescent, OR, a dependable tool for employee evaluations and hiring decisions.

The high accuracy of hair follicle drug tests is underpinned by its ability to detect a wide range of substances. Results are fast-tracked, typically available within a few days, facilitating quick decision-making. This efficient and trustworthy testing process ensures Crescent, OR businesses maintain their operational momentum without compromising on safety standards.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Crescent, OR

Employing hair follicle testing in Crescent, OR helps assure compliance with stringent corporate drug-free policies. This reliable testing method mitigates legal implications while enhancing workplace safety and integrity, providing employers with the peace of mind knowing they're upholding the highest standards of workforce regulation.

With long detection periods and a tamper-resistant nature, hair testing ensures businesses remain in line with legal mandates. It plays a crucial role in risk management by supporting fair employment practices and contributing to a secure, substance-free 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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