Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Plush, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair tests are increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers. When clipped near the scalp, it can reveal alcohol and drug use over a time frame of about three months. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A sample of approximately 200 hair strands, equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil, cut from the scalp, provides around 100mg of hair, optimal for both screening and confirmation. To include EtG, additional tests, or for panels exceeding ten, a sample of 150mg is advisable. It's best to use a jeweler’s scale for specimen measurement. Should scalp hair not be accessible, the same quantity of body hair can be used. "Head hair" pertains specifically to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug testing laboratory process comprises four critical phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary entry of a sample into the lab's system. This step ensures proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry that isn't available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Though cost-effective for eliminating drug use on most samples, a positive outcome from this stage must be confirmed to be court-admissible. Any samples testing as presumptively positive here will require secondary confirmation.

At the Extraction stage, if the Screening suggests a positive result, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen. This step retrieves drugs from hair at a lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral samples), explaining why hair drug screening is the most challenging method.

Confirmation for any positive results in the screening phase is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that presumptively test positive are washed prior to confirmation if necessary. The entire processing from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed according to both the College of American Pathologists' Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests detect use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter range.
• Difficulty to cheat: The results of hair tests are more valid due to the difficulty in cheating.
• Provides historical data: These tests show drug-use patterns over time rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to show up in hair.
• Cost: Generally, hair tests are more costly compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Variations in results: Individual hair properties like color and growth affect metabolite concentrations.

Note: Though termed "hair follicle tests", the testing is done on the hair strand, not the follicle itself.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle and urine testing in Plush, OR, hair tests provide superior accuracy and reliability. Employers find hair testing more effective due to its extensive detection period, uncovering substance use over a longer timeframe than traditional urine tests.

Beyond providing longer detection windows, hair follicle tests also ensure results that are nearly impossible to manipulate, giving employers a more dependable and comprehensive view of substance use compared to standard urine analysis.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Plush, OR, offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days, making it an excellent tool for employers. This prolonged timeframe allows for a thorough examination of an individual's substance history, unlike the short detection period of urine tests.

The ability to track drug use over three months provides employers with critical insights into long-term substance use patterns, supporting informed decisions in hiring and managing employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Plush, OR, hair follicle testing provides a tamper-resistant solution that vastly reduces the risk of sample adulteration. The method ensures reliable and unquestionable results by relying on hair specimens, which are difficult to alter compared to bodily fluids such as urine.

This robust testing approach assures both employers and individuals that the results are accurate and trustworthy, reinforcing the integrity of the testing process by minimizing potential manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Local and nationwide testing centers, including those in Plush, OR, highlight the accessibility and convenience of hair testing clinics. Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy access to testing services, making the procedure simple and hassle-free.

With numerous locations available, individuals and businesses can benefit from quick and efficient testing processes that prioritize convenience without compromising on thoroughness or accuracy.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Plush, OR, the process for ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle drug test results is straightforward and confidential. Accredited Drug Testing prioritizes user-friendly services that ensure privacy and ease at every stage of the testing procedure.

The seamless approach and sophisticated security measures alleviate fears regarding confidentiality, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a stress-free testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing structures in Plush, OR, making hair follicle testing an affordable choice for businesses of all sizes. Coupled with quick turnaround times, this cost-effective approach provides excellent value.

Companies can take advantage of budget-friendly testing options without sacrificing quality, ensuring that substance use monitoring is achievable and efficient even on a large scale.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Plush, OR, hair follicle drug tests stand out for delivering fast, precise, and reliable results. These tests are exceptionally accurate in detecting various substances through an unobtrusive collection of hair samples, ensuring concerns of timeliness and precision are addressed appropriately.

Hair testing methods not only guarantee quick turnaround times but also maintain high standards of accuracy, making them a trusted choice for individuals and organizations seeking dependable drug testing outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Plush, OR, adopting hair follicle testing guarantees compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This choice minimizes legal liabilities associated with drug use at work and enhances safety.

By implementing hair testing, organizations demonstrate their commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant work environment, ultimately achieving peace of mind through adherence to established standards.

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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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