Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kerby, OR

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair assessments is now regarded as an effective means for identifying substance and alcohol usage. A strand of hair captures biomarkers within its fibers, effectively offering a prolonged account of one's consumption of alcohol and other drugs. By securing hair samples near the scalp, one can assess drug and alcohol presence for nearly a 90-day duration. Collecting hair is uncomplicated, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient for transportation.

When acquiring a 1.5-inch segment comprising approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a standard pencil) closest to the scalp, it yields 100mg, a sufficient amount for both initial screening and further validation. For EtG, additional components, and/or assessments surpassing 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. Employ a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. In case scalp hair cannot be gathered, a similar quantity of body hair is a suitable alternative. References to head hair specify scalp hair distinctly. In contrast, body hair encompasses facial, axillary, and other hair varieties.

Process Overview

The comprehensive laboratory workflow to obtain a drug test result consists of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation phases.

In the Accessioning phase, a sample undergoes initial processing within a laboratory system. This step involves confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipping, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplemental data input absent from an electronic custody sequence.

Screening provides a rapid drug abuse inspection. Though cost-efficient, a favorable Screening outcome necessitates corroboration for legal acceptability. Samples with provisional positive outcomes require confirmatory procedures.

If a sample yields an initial positive outcome during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated at considerably lower concentrations than other typical methods (e.g., urine or saliva), rendering hair drug screening an intricate procedure to execute.

For confirmatory analysis of positive screenings, techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are applied. Pre-confirmation, all preliminarily positive samples are subjected to cleansing as necessary. Throughout, from Accessioning to Confirmation, the procedure undergoes assessment under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug evaluations can identify drug consumption over a span of up to 90 days, which surpasses the shorter duration afforded by urine examinations.
• Resistance to deception: The integrity of hair drug assessments is notoriously challenging to compromise, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical usage depiction: A consistent record of drug intake over a specified timeframe is attainable, unlike immediate use only analyses.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent use identification: Detectability of drugs in hair necessitates a timeframe of roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense factor: The costs involved in hair drug assessments generally surpass those of alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair pigmentation and personal differences in hair development can alter drug metabolite concentrations.

Note: Despite the common reference to "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests in Kerby, OR, with its superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests can indicate recent drug use, hair testing offers a broader view of an individual's drug history. Employing hair testing means better insight into an applicant or employee's substance exposure over time, aiding more accurate assessments.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing is particularly advantageous in Kerby, OR, due to its extended detection window, capturing drug use for up to 90 days. This allows employers a more comprehensive view of an individual's drug usage history, providing a thorough assessment that isn't confined to recent drug intake alone.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Located in Kerby, OR, hair follicle testing stands out as a tamper-resistant method, reducing the risk of sample adulteration significantly. This reliable method ensures the integrity of test results, providing peace of mind that the outcomes are both credible and indefensible in false representations.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing centers across Kerby, OR, and other Nationwide locations, ensuring quick and hassle-free access to testing services. This network of facilities makes the scheduling and processing of hair follicle drug tests seamless, addressing the needs of both employers and individuals efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Kerby, OR, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential, from ordering to receiving results. This guarantees privacy while providing a straightforward experience, easing any apprehensions surrounding the testing procedure, and reassuring clients of their information's safety.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our services in Kerby, OR, offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround on hair follicle drug tests. These features deliver excellent value, aligning cost-effectiveness with swift results to cater to companies of varying sizes, strengthening our reputation as a reliable and economical testing provider.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Kerby, OR, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for delivering fast, accurate, and consistent results. They are highly effective in detecting substance use, ensuring minimal waiting times for conclusive evidence of drug usage. The swift analysis enables employers and individuals to make informed decisions quickly, crucial in maintaining safety and compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Kerby, OR, benefit from hair follicle testing, ensuring workplace compliance with drug-free policies and mitigating legal risks. This testing method bolsters workplace safety, offering employers confidence and peace of mind in their commitment to a drug-free environment, ultimately enhancing organizational reputation.

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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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