Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Fair Oaks, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures extended-time data of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers in the strands of maturing hair. When retrieved near the scalp, hair can offer around a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch snip containing roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for examination and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and assays beyond 10 panels, it is suggested to use 150mg of the sample. It is advisable to gauge the sample weight using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be sourced, a compatible quantity of body hair may be used. The term "head hair" specifically denotes scalp hair only. "Body hair" includes all other types like facial, axillary, etc.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test focuses mainly on four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory's system. This step verifies that the sample is correctly sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any pending data input not submitted through an electronic chain of custody.

Screening refers to an initial rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly way to negate drug consumption in most cases, a positive result must be confirmed to be valid in legal proceedings. Any specimen showing presumptive positivity during Screening must undergo a secondary verification.

Should a specimen show presumptive positivity at the Screening stage, additional hair from the original sample is extracted and set for Extraction. This involves extracting drugs from hair at concentrations much lower compared to methods like urine or oral fluid, presenting challenges unique to hair drug testing.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing pre-confirmation as necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and meets ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which have shorter detection intervals.
• High integrity: The difficulty of manipulating a hair drug test leads to more dependable results.
• Displays usage history: It reveals an ongoing pattern of drug consumption rather than merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Not capable of detecting recent consumption: Drugs become visible in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other methods.
• Result variances: Drug metabolite concentrations in hair can vary due to factors like hair color and individual hair growth rates.

Note: Although often named "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Fair Oaks, OR, hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests with superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests can reveal drug use over longer periods, thus offering more comprehensive substance history insights. This makes them indispensable for detailed evaluations, setting them ahead of traditional testing methods.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Fair Oaks, OR, captures drug use spanning up to 90 days. This provides employers with detailed insight into an employee's or applicant's substance use history. Over a broad timespan, hair testing ensures a thorough assessment of usage patterns and behaviors.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Fair Oaks, OR, hair follicle tests are known for being a tamper-resistant testing method. The nature of the test greatly diminishes the possibility of sample tampering or manipulation, offering results that are dependable and make cheating virtually impossible, guaranteeing authenticity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing locations, including those in Fair Oaks, OR, our services provide accessible and simple access to testing. Our extensive network ensures that testing is quick and hassle-free, supporting individuals and businesses alike with prompt and efficient solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our simple, confidential process in Fair Oaks, OR, ensures ease when ordering, conducting, and receiving results from hair follicle tests. Concerns about privacy are duly addressed, providing a process that is both straightforward and secure for all stakeholders involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Fair Oaks, OR, enjoys affordable pricing and fast turnaround on hair follicle tests. Our competitive pricing models and swift processing times present exceptional value, delivering efficient and economical solutions that meet diverse business needs and budgetary considerations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Fair Oaks, OR, hair follicle drug tests deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision in detecting substance use ensures high accuracy levels, making them a preferred choice for those needing rapid and dependable results. They effectively trace drug use with meticulous care, assuring stakeholders of the test's validity and immediacy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Fair Oaks, OR, gain compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. This testing method aids in meeting workplace drug-free policies, reduces legal liabilities, and enhances safety within the workplace. It reinforces standards and aligns with regulatory compliance.

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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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