Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Eola, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is considered an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the structure of the developing hair strand. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or tests surpassing 10 panels,150mg of the sample is advisable. It's suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for measuring the sample’s weight. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair pertains to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four key phases in the laboratory assessment of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the primary incorporation of a sample into a lab’s system. This includes ensuring the sample’s proper sealing and transport, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any outstanding data input not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid inspection for drug misuse. While Screening offers an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive must be confirmed to hold up in court. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening do necessitate subsequent confirmation.

If a specimen is preliminarily positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is retrieved from the original sample and arranged for Extraction. In this process, drugs are isolated from hair at a considerably reduced concentration than in other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples identified as presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Sustained detection period: Hair drug tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Cheating is challenging: It is extremely challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, ensuring more accurate outcomes.
• Offers historical insights: It can depict a usage trend over time, not solely recent use.

Limitations:

• Can't detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth patterns can impact drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Often mistakenly termed "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Eola, OR, hair follicle testing stands out as a superior alternative to urine analysis. Hair tests outperform traditional methods, attributable to their higher detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, they cover a broader range of substances and offer a longer detection period, making them highly effective for comprehensive substance use assessments.

Extended Detection Window

A significant advantage of hair follicle testing in Eola, OR is its extended detection window. Covering up to 90 days of substance history, it provides a thorough insight into an individual's drug use. This long timeframe gives employers a clear understanding of an applicant or employee's past, surpassing the limitations of shorter-term testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests conducted in Eola, OR significantly mitigate the risk of sample tampering. The collection process is designed to prevent adulteration, ensuring results are both reliable and trustworthy. This robustness against manipulation offers peace of mind to those relying on the tests for accurate and indisputable outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient access to testing services across the nation, including local centers in Eola, OR. Our expansive network simplifies the process, granting individuals and companies quick, easy, and stress-free access to necessary testing facilities. This extensive reach ensures everyone experiences seamless and efficient service.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Eola, OR, ordering and undergoing hair follicle testing is a simple and confidential process. Every step, from scheduling to receiving results, is tailored to ensure privacy and ease of use. Individuals can feel comfortable knowing their information is handled with the utmost care, and the entire process remains straightforward and discreet.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Hair follicle testing in Eola, OR is both cost-effective and expedient. Our competitive pricing structures cater to companies of all sizes, ensuring affordability without compromising on quality or speed. Quick result turnaround times further enhance the value proposition, offering economical solutions alongside peace of mind for our clients.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Eola, OR offers lightning-fast and remarkably accurate results. The process is designed to swiftly detect drugs with unparalleled precision, ensuring reliability for employers and individuals seeking clarity in substance testing. The accuracy of hair tests contrasts with traditional methods, making them a preferred choice for those prioritizing accuracy and speed.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Eola, OR benefit from hair follicle testing, which aligns with drug-free policies seamlessly. This method not only ensures compliance but also reduces legal risks and enhances workplace safety. By choosing this method, companies demonstrate a commitment to a safe and compliant environment, reinforcing peace of mind for business leaders.

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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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