Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Holley, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Through embedding biomarkers within the hair strands as they grow, hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and other drug use. When clipped near the scalp, hair grants a detection span of roughly three months for drugs and alcohol. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transportation.

A hair sample of 1.5 inches consisting of about 200 strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplemental, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, utilizing 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. In terms of head hair, we denote scalp hair exclusively, while body hair encompasses all other forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing for drug test results consists of four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary handling of a sample within the laboratory's system. This includes confirming the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any missing data not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening represents an initial, rapid drug presence test. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug consumption for most samples, a confirmed positive is necessary to hold up in court. Samples registering a presumptive positive during Screening demand an additional confirmation.

Should a sample yield a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are derived from the hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is the most complex method.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples deemed presumptively positive are cleansed prior to confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory protocol from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug screenings can identify drug usage up to 90 days, surpassing urine tests' shorter detection period.
• Difficult to manipulate: It is exceedingly challenging to evade a hair drug examination, ensuring more precise results.
• Captures historical usage: It reflects the trend of drug consumption over time, not merely recent activity.

Limitations:

• Unable to capture recent consumption: Drugs generally require 5-7 days post-use to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically bear higher costs than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair pigment and individual differences in hair growth may influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is a misnomer— the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Holley, OR
In Holley, OR, hair follicle tests stand superior to traditional urine tests by delivering enhanced detection accuracy and reliability. Hair testing provides a comprehensive view of substance use patterns, revealing drug use history more effectively than urine tests, which have a more limited detection window.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Holley, OR
The capability of hair follicle testing to track drug use over a span of up to 90 days is invaluable. It allows employers and authorities in Holley to gain insights into an individual's long-term substance use behavior, presenting a holistic view of their compliance with drug-free standards.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Holley, OR
In Holley, hair follicle drug tests are significantly more resistant to tampering compared to other methods. The supervised collection process ensures sample integrity, minimizing risks of adulteration and ensuring the results are trusted and verifiable.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Holley, OR
With testing centers located nationwide, including Holley, OR, accessing hair follicle testing services is both quick and straightforward. Our strategic locations ensure clients can complete the testing process without the inconvenience of traveling long distances.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Holley, OR
In Holley, OR, we offer a straightforward and confidential method for ordering and conducting hair follicle drug tests. Our process prioritizes privacy and ease, reassuring clients that their personal information remains protected throughout the testing cycle.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Holley, OR
Our cost-effective pricing and swift turnaround times in Holley, OR make hair follicle testing accessible for businesses of all sizes. Clients benefit from a budget-friendly solution that delivers timely results without compromising quality and reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate and Reliable Results in Holley, OR
Hair follicle drug tests are praised for their remarkable accuracy and rapid results. In Holley, the precision of these tests is unmatched in detecting substance use. The meticulous analysis process ensures confidence in the data collected, offering a dependable tool for screening efforts.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Holley, OR
By adopting hair follicle testing, employers in Holley can enforce their drug-free workplace policies effectively. This testing method aids in maintaining compliance, reduces potential legal issues, and enhances safety, offering peace of mind to business owners.

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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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