Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Roseburg North, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for detecting substance use. Hair acts as a long-term record for alcohol and drugs by capturing indicators within the hair's growing strands. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window for alcohol and drugs up to around three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

Taking a sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the ideal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG addons, and/or assessments above 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for specimen weighing. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Overview of the Procedure

The primary steps in the laboratory process of generating a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial processing of a sample within a laboratory's system. This process ensures the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any other data input not supplied by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening conducts an initial brief evaluation for drugs of abuse. While it is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for court admissibility. Samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening need a subsequent confirmation.

For samples presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is retrieved from the initial specimen for Extraction. This stage extracts drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than alternative methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are cleansed as necessary before confirmation. The entire laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to compromise: It is extremely difficult to alter the results of a hair drug test, enhancing accuracy.
• Offers historical perspective: It can highlight a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent usage.

Challenges:

• Cannot detect recent use: It generally takes around 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be more costly than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Variables such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests," the test itself examines the hair strand, not the follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Roseburg North, OR, outshines traditional urine tests owing to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests are more common, hair testing offers an extensive detection period, making it more effective for examining long-term substance use, thus giving employers a more in-depth understanding of their employees' habits.

Extended Detection Window

In Roseburg North, OR, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection window, allowing employers to view an individual’s substance use history for up to 90 days. This comprehensive overview helps in assessing long-term habits rather than just recent use, offering better insights into the applicant or employee's lifestyle choices.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Roseburg North, OR, is a highly reliable method, as it significantly reduces tampering risks. Unlike other testing methods that might face attempts at sample manipulation, hair tests provide a dependable way to secure authentic results, ensuring accuracy and trust in the findings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous nationwide locations and facilities in Roseburg North, OR, hair testing services are easily accessible. Our network of testing centers offers convenience and prompt service for individuals and employers, streamlining the process of drug testing with hassle-free procedures across various cities.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Roseburg North, OR, is straightforward and maintains confidentiality. From ordering to testing and receiving results, every step is designed to be simple, assuring users of privacy and ease throughout the entire procedure, addressing any concerns about protecting personal data.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and swift turnaround times in Roseburg North, OR, our hair follicle testing services deliver excellent value. Companies of all sizes benefit from competitive price structures, ensuring they receive quick, reliable results without compromising on budget constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug tests in Roseburg North, OR, boast unparalleled accuracy and speed. Their precision in detecting substance use is unmatched. Employers and individuals alike trust these tests for fast outcomes that adhere to stringent detection standards, ensuring every instance of drug use is identified and reported without delay.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Enforcing drug-free policies is vital for employers, and hair follicle testing in Roseburg North, OR, helps ensure compliance. By minimizing legal risks and enhancing workplace safety, these tests provide employers with the confidence and peace of mind needed to maintain a secure working 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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