Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kings Valley, OR

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The composition of hair allows it to retain biomarkers from drugs and alcohol over time, capturing these within the strands as they grow. By obtaining samples near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to around three months for alcohol and various drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, less prone to tampering, and convenient for transport.

A section of hair that is 1.5 inches in length, consisting of approximately 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil), sourced nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg, which is an optimal amount for testing and confirmation. In cases of EtG testing, additional tests, or assessments beyond 10 panels, a specimen amount of 150mg is advisable. It's best to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent volume of body hair serves as a substitute. The term head hair specifically pertains to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

There are four primary phases in the laboratory processing of drug test results: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In the Accessioning phase, the sample undergoes initial processing into the laboratory’s records. This step involves checking if the sample remained sealed and was sent correctly, assigning a Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN) randomly, and fulfilling any additional data input omitted by an electronic chain of custody setup.

Screening serves as the preliminary assessment for drug presence. Though cost-effective for eliminating the presence of drugs in most samples, positive preliminary results must be substantiated for court acceptability. Samples with presumptive positive results during Screening require further confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity during Screening, more hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drug substances are drawn out of the hair at notably lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral samples), establishing hair drug testing as a more complex methodology.

For Confirmation of any positive screening results, techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are employed. Before Confirmation, all samples with preliminary positive results undergo washing as necessary. The entire laboratory workflow, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is assessed under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 requirements.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug testing detects drug use for as long as 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty to cheat: The challenge in tampering with hair drug tests results in more precise findings.
• Provides historical data: It can map drug consumption over time, rather than only recent instances.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It typically takes drugs 5-7 days to become discernible in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests tend to incur greater costs compared to other drug testing forms.
• Variations in results: Elements such as hair hue and personal hair growth patterns can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Kings Valley, OR, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests by offering enhanced detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests can detect recent drug use, hair tests reveal prolonged substance use history. This characteristic enables hair testing to better reflect an individual's long-term drug use patterns, providing invaluable insights for employers.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Kings Valley, OR benefit from hair follicle testing's ability to detect drug use over an impressive span of up to 90 days. This extended detection window helps organizations gain a holistic view of an individual's substance use, impacting crucial hiring and workplace decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The inherent tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle drug tests provides unmatched sample integrity in Kings Valley, OR. Unlike other testing methods, hair tests are difficult to manipulate or adulterate, ensuring employers and organizations receive reliable, unquestionable results that underpin their decision-making processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous nationwide testing centers and local facilities in Kings Valley, OR, getting drug-tested has never been more convenient. Our geographically dispersed locations ensure accessibility, making the entire process quick and hassle-free for individuals seeking reliable testing services showcasing our commitment to client satisfaction.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Kings Valley, OR, our hair follicle testing process prioritizes simplicity and confidentiality. Clients benefit from a straightforward procedure for ordering tests, collecting samples, and receiving results. Such a streamlined approach addresses privacy concerns while ensuring the whole experience remains efficient and user-friendly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing structures ensure affordability for hair follicle testing services in Kings Valley, OR. Coupled with fast turnaround times, we offer exceptional value for businesses of varying sizes, enhancing decision-making processes and fostering a trust-based relationship with our clients.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

When it comes to swift and precise outcomes, hair follicle drug tests in Kings Valley, OR stand out. These tests leverage robust technology to deliver high accuracy levels in detecting substance usage. Clients benefit from fast processing times that ensure they receive reliable results without delay, making them a preferred choice for many.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Kings Valley, OR businesses, hair follicle testing plays a crucial role in maintaining a compliant, drug-free workplace. By ensuring adherence to workplace policies, these tests mitigate legal risks and promote a safer environment, bringing employers peace of mind and confidence in their workforce management strategies.

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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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