Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Merlin, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means to detect drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of substance use by capturing biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When sourced from near the scalp, hair can reveal up to about a 3-month detection period for substances. Collecting hair is easy, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 strands of hair, comparable in thickness to a #2 pencil and taken nearest to the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen amounting to 150mg is advised. We suggest measuring the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. In cases where scalp hair isn't available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary hair, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary steps in the lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system, ensuring its proper sealing and shipment, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any extra data not entered via an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial rapid test for substances. While Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, positive results must be confirmed for court use. Samples registering presumptively positive in Screening need further confirmation.

When a sample proves presumptively positive in Screening, additional strands are extracted from the original specimen for the Extraction phase. In Extraction, drugs are removed from hair at a far lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), establishing hair drug testing as the most challenging method to perform.

Any positive screening outcomes undergo Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples preliminarily positive undergo washing before Confirmation if required. The whole lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of Hair Drug Testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can detect substance use for a duration of 90 days, compared to urine tests, which have a limited detection timeframe.
• Increased test integrity: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: Offers insight into drug use patterns over time, rather than just revealing recent usage.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Detection of drugs in hair takes approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Even though commonly called "hair follicle tests," the test examines the hair strand itself, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Merlin, OR, hair follicle testing has proven superiority over urine testing. Enhanced detection accuracy and reliability make hair tests the better choice for

• Employers in need of stringent drug policies.
• Courts requiring accurate historical data.
• Substance Abuse professionals seeking comprehensive evaluations.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Merlin, OR, offers up to 90 days of drug use history, providing employers with a thorough understanding of a candidate's or employee's substance use habits. This longer timeframe is particularly useful for

• Identifying patterns of regular use.
• Evaluating compliance with drug-free policies.
• Assessing the potential risk associated with an individual's substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Merlin, OR, employ a tamper-resistant method, which significantly minimizes the risk of sample adulteration. This ensures that the results remain

• Unquestionably authentic.
• Reliable for making informed decisions.
• Aligned with workplace standards.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Access to testing services is simplified in Merlin, OR, with our convenient nationwide testing locations. These centers make drug testing

• Quick and easy to access.
• Hassle-free for all involved parties.
• Localized to meet community needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Merlin, OR, is simple and confidential. We streamline ordering, taking tests, and receiving results while prioritizing privacy. Clients can expect a process

• Free from complications.
• Dedicated to maintaining confidentiality.
• Designed for ease of use and user comfort.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Merlin, OR, our hair follicle testing provides affordable pricing and fast turnaround. With competitive pricing structures and quick delivery timelines, we offer

• Excellent value for businesses of all sizes.
• Rapid results to inform important decisions.
• Peace of mind that won't break the bank.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Merlin, OR offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests excel in identifying substance use with high precision, ensuring employers get the dependable data they need for informed decision-making.

• Speedy testing process ensures quick results.
• High accuracy in detecting substance presence.
• Minimized errors compared to other methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Merlin, OR, helps employers maintain compliance and peace of mind. This method ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, diminishing legal risks and contributing to a safer work environment. Employers benefit from

• Reduced liabilities associated with drug-related incidents.
• Enhanced safety for all staff.
• Confidence in employing drug-free candidates.

Drug Testing Near Merlin, OR

Rogue River, OR

Murphy, OR

Wolf Creek, OR

New Hope, OR

Wilderville, OR

Placer, OR

Fruitdale, OR

Leland, OR

Harbeck-Fruitdale, OR

Northwest Josephine, OR

Grants Pass, OR

Redwood, OR

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews