Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hammond, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When taken close to the scalp, hair can offer up to a roughly three-month detection timeframe for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising about 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for testing and verification. For EtG, enhancements, and/or examinations beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the hair is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale is suggested for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. Head hair refers solely to scalp hair, while body hair denotes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key steps in the laboratory analysis of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. It involves confirming the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial swift assessment for substances of abuse. Screening is an economically efficient means to eliminate drug use for the majority of samples, though a positive screen requires validation to be court-admissible. Any samples presenting presumptive positives in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

If a sample shows presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair from the initial sample is extracted and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is among the most challenging methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is conducted via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug consumption up to 90 days in the past, unlike urine tests which have a shorter scope.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, ensuring more accurate outcomes.
• Provides usage history: It offers a timeline of drug use over a period, rather than merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to track recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual growth variations can affect drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Referred to as "hair follicle tests", the test actually evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Hammond, OR, hair follicle testing offers numerous advantages over urine tests. Superior detection accuracy and reliability make hair tests a preferred choice for identifying drug use. They present a comprehensive view of substance use, making them more reliable for entities requiring accurate results.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Hammond, OR, is remarkable, detecting drug use over a period of up to 90 days. This offers employers a complete understanding of an individual's past substance consumption, informing recruitment and monitoring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Offering a significantly tamper-resistant testing method in Hammond, OR, hair follicle testing minimizes the risk of sample adulteration. This reliability ensures undeniable results, making the testing process more trustworthy for all parties involved.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Conveniently located nationwide testing centers, including those in Hammond, OR, offer seamless access to our services. With various local and national locations, clients enjoy quick and hassle-free testing experiences, ensuring efficient service delivery.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Hammond, OR, is simple and confidential. Ordering tests, sample collection, and receiving results are streamlined to ensure privacy and ease of use, addressing concerns and making the testing process stress-free for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Hammond, OR, we provide affordable pricing and rapid result turnaround for hair follicle testing. By offering competitive rates and quick analysis times, we deliver excellent value, meeting the needs of businesses of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Hammond, OR provides fast, accurate, and reliable results. This testing method sharply detects substance use, ensuring high precision and speed in analysis. By choosing hair tests, individuals and employers gain confidence in the testing outcomes, knowing they reflect true substance use patterns over time.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Hammond, OR, ensures compliance with workplace drug policies, providing employers peace of mind. This method reduces legal risks while enhancing workplace safety, vital for companies dedicated to maintaining a drug-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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