Hair Follicle Drug Testing - North Siuslaw, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive record of substance use by preserving biomarkers within the hair fiber. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of about 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for testing. For analyses like EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is suggested. It's recommended to measure the weight of the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent portion of body hair may be used. Here, head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair covers all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the lab's system. This step includes confirming that the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary quick test for substance abuse. Though Screening is a cost-efficient method to negate drug presence in most samples, a positive screening must be verified for court validity. Samples flagged as positive in Screening require supplementary confirmation.

If Screening indicates a potential positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are withdrawn from hair at much lower concentrations than other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), marking hair drug screening as the most intricate method.

Confirmation of any positive screen occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples with positive indicators undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a narrower scope.
• Hard to falsify: It’s notably challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers usage history: It reveals a drug use pattern spanning time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to register in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing alternatives.
• Outcome variations: Aspects like hair color and varying hair growth rates can alter drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand, not the scalp-located hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle tests to standard urine tests in North Siuslaw, OR, the superior accuracy and reliability of hair tests stand out. Hair testing has proven to be more effective in spotting drug use due to its longer detection window and resistance to tampering, offering a clear advantage over urine tests which focus primarily on recent usage.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in North Siuslaw, OR, offers an extended detection window that covers up to 90 days. This comprehensive view of a person’s drug use history offers employers crucial insights into an applicant or employee’s substance habits, far beyond what traditional testing methods can provide, ensuring more informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In North Siuslaw, OR, hair follicle tests are increasingly relied upon due to their tamper-resistant nature. This methodology significantly diminishes the risk of sample adulteration, resulting in highly reliable and indisputable findings that can be confidently used by employers, courts, and other entities concerned with honest reporting.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient access to its services in North Siuslaw, OR, and nationwide. With multiple locations available, clients can experience a seamless, stress-free testing process no matter where they are, guaranteeing swift and easy service that caters to all testing needs efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

In North Siuslaw, OR, the process of ordering, undergoing, and receiving results from hair follicle testing is designed to be simple and confidential. The streamlined approach not only assures user-friendliness but also upholds privacy standards, addressing any concerns potential clients may have.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in North Siuslaw, OR, is dedicated to providing competitive pricing complemented by fast turnaround times. This approach ensures clients, regardless of company size, receive remarkable value while gaining quick and accurate insights, offering them peace of mind without the financial burden.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In North Siuslaw, OR, hair follicle testing is known for producing fast, accurate results that make it an excellent choice for detecting substance use. These tests are equipped with a level of precision that ensures any results reported are reliable and trustworthy. High accuracy in indicating recent and past substance use makes this testing method a top choice for many who require trustworthy outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in North Siuslaw, OR, utilizing hair follicle testing helps promote compliance with workplace drug-free initiatives. This method not only ensures the upholding of such policies but also minimizes legal risks and aids in maintaining a safe work environment, offering employers invaluable peace of mind.

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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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