Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Crooked River, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has become recognized as a compelling mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a protracted timeline of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers in the structure of the hair as it grows. When sourced nearest to the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 90-day detection range for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch portion of around 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional components, and/or testing beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the hair is advised. We suggest utilizing a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair is not present, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other categories of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Procedure Outline

The primary stages in the lab handling of a drug test sample include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning signifies the initial handling of a sample into a lab's system. This process ensures that the sample was appropriately sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial assessment for substance misuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for it to be legally valid. Any samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening are required to undergo secondary confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for Preparation. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at a considerably lower concentration than in other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most intricate methodology to execute.

Verification of any positive screen result is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection range: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a narrower detection range.
• Hard to manipulate: It is notably hard to manipulate a hair drug test, making the outcomes more reliable.
• Offers historical insights: It can furnish a timeline of drug usage over time, not merely recent use.

Challenges:

• Cannot identify recent use: Roughly 5-7 days are required for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth variances can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite commonly being called "hair follicle tests", the assessment evaluates the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

For drug testing in Crooked River, OR, hair follicle tests significantly outperform traditional urine tests. They offer superior detection accuracy and are far more reliable. The extended detection window is invaluable, capturing substance use history more effectively than urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Crooked River, OR offers a wide detection window covering up to 90 days. This duration affords employers a thorough look into an individual’s past substance use, far surpassing the detection capabilities of standard testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Employing hair follicle testing in Crooked River, OR decreases the risk of tampering compared to other methods. This testing approach ensures the integrity of samples taken and provides irrefutable results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient local and nationwide testing centers, ensuring quick, easy access to services in Crooked River, OR. Our widespread locations facilitate a trouble-free testing process for everyone involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing process in Crooked River, OR is designed for simplicity and confidentiality. The straightforward order, test, and results procedure protect privacy while offering ease of use, ensuring participants feel confident throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Crooked River, OR, we provide competitive pricing and rapid result delivery. Our affordable pricing and fast turnaround offer companies substantial value and reassurance, regardless of their size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Crooked River, OR deliver rapid and reliable outcomes. Their remarkable accuracy in identifying substance use ensures fast responses, which is critical for employers needing dependable drug screening results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Crooked River, OR ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies. Implementing this testing method reduces legal liabilities and fosters a safer workplace 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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