Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Rieth, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an efficient means to identify drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer roughly a 3-month window for identifying alcohol and drug presence. Hair collection is straightforward, posing little risk of tampering, and is convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches comprising around 200 hair strands (equivalent to the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp delivers 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and validation. For testing EtG, additional panels, and/or over 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unattainable, an equivalent amount of body hair is a viable alternative. The term head hair specifically denotes scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair categories (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four pivotal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab's system. It ensures that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening cost-effectively excludes drug usage in most cases, a positive screen must be confirmed to be legally valid. Samples that are suspected positive during Screening require secondary confirmation.

In cases where a sample is suspected positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the primary specimen for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis the most challenging method to conduct.

Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methodologies. All presumptively positive samples undergo a washing process before confirmation as needed. The complete laboratory journey from Accessioning to Confirmation is subject to review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection window.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is challenging, ensuring results remain accurate.
• Historical insights: It can trace a pattern of drug use over time, instead of just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth might influence the metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strands and not the follicles under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why does hair follicle testing surpass urine testing in Rieth, OR? The benefits of hair testing overshadow traditional urine analysis with

• superior detection accuracy
• longer detection periods

Extended Detection Window

In Rieth, OR, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, observing drug use for up to 90 days. This long-term detection provides a more complete view of an applicant or employee's substance use history, making it invaluable for employers.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Rieth, OR stand out as a tamper-resistant testing method, considerably reducing the chances of sample adulteration. Such a reliable process ensures results remain unquestionable, strengthening trust in the testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our convenient nationwide testing locations, including local sites in Rieth, OR, emphasize the ease and speed of accessing these services. With testing centers scattered across the country, receiving a hair follicle test is now quick and hassle-free.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Rieth, OR, the hair follicle test follows a simple, confidential process. It ensures privacy at every step, from order to result, giving users peace of mind regarding their personal information while maintaining efficiency.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Rieth, OR, our affordable pricing and fast turnaround make hair follicle testing accessible for companies of all sizes. Through competitive rates and prompt results, we deliver significant value and peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Rieth, OR, the precision of hair follicle drug tests means they consistently deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results. The

• efficiency
• accuracy

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Rieth, OR can achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free policies. This not only alleviates legal risks but also enhances workplace safety by maintaining a responsible environment.

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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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