Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lonerock, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair screening is now regarded as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair preserves a prolonged record of alcohol and drugs by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair shaft. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer up to roughly a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, reasonably hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of about 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional requests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We propose weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not present, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it refers solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four principal stages in the laboratory handling of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary processing of a specimen into a laboratory's framework. This incorporates checking that the specimen was sealed and sent correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening embodies an initial swift assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach to negate drug usage on most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be permissible in court. Any samples that are tentatively positive in Screening do require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is tentatively positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are derived from hair at a substantially lower concentration than other techniques (ex. urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Any tentatively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The whole laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests that have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Difficult to tamper with: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, thus yielding more precise outcomes.
• Supplies historical insight: It can render a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are commonly more costly than alternative drug testing procedures.
• Fluctuations in results: Aspects such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis itself examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Lonerock, OR, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in several ways.
This method boasts superior detection accuracy, identifying substances that urine tests might miss. The reliability of hair testing lies in its ability to trace substance use over longer periods, offering detailed insights into an individual’s usage patterns, making it a preferred choice for comprehensive testing.

Extended Detection Window

One of the key advantages of hair follicle testing in Lonerock, OR, is its extended detection window. Capable of revealing drug use up to 90 days prior, this method grants employers a broader view of a person’s substance history.
This helps in making informed decisions, particularly when assessing applicants or employees, ensuring a more thorough understanding of their behavioral patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Lonerock, OR, offer a tamper-resistant testing method.
The difficulty of adulterating a hair specimen makes the results trustworthy and dependable. This method ensures that the sample remains unaltered, delivering accurate outcomes, which reduces the risk of disputed results or deceitful practices.
The reliability of these tests solidifies their role as a trusted choice.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide and local testing centers in Lonerock, OR, accessing hair follicle testing is seamless.
Our facilities are strategically located to ensure quick and hassle-free testing services. This network allows for easy location finding and service accessibility, enhancing the user experience by reducing time and effort required for testing processes.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Lonerock, OR, is simple and confidential.
Ordering, conducting, and receiving results are streamlined to protect privacy and ensure ease of use. Our commitment to confidentiality means individuals and businesses can engage in the testing process without concern for breaches in privacy, maintaining trust in handling sensitive information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Lonerock, OR, we offer affordable pricing structures with rapid turnaround times.
This provides exceptional value for companies regardless of size, allowing them to achieve peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Lonerock, OR, stand out for their precision and speed. Analyzing hair samples provides high accuracy in detecting substance use. Thanks to the sensitive nature of this method, it delivers quick, reliable results that help individuals and employers make well-informed decisions.
The speed of these tests significantly aids in time-sensitive situations, ensuring prompt actions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Lonerock, OR, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free policies, offering peace of mind.
Adopting this testing method minimizes legal risks and strengthens workplace safety, creating a safer, more productive environment. Through reliable results and adherence to regulations, businesses can confidently uphold their standards without legal concerns.

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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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