Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Rowena, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a powerful method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the strands. When collected close to the scalp, hair can provide a detection span of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of roughly 200 hairs (comparable to a #2 pencil's diameter) from near the scalp offers 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample size for analysis and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a quantity of 150mg of the sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is recommended. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent measure of body hair may be procured. When mentioning head hair, it exclusively pertains to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair types (facial hair, underarm hair, etc.).

Process Overview

The process for obtaining a drug test result in the lab includes four stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab’s database. This step involves confirming the correct sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completing any further data entry not sourced from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a quick preliminary check for substance abuse. While Screening serves as a cost-efficient measure to do away with drug usage for most samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation to stand in legal contexts. Samples with a presumptive positive result during Screening demand further confirmation.

When a sample is positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction stage. In this process, hair has drugs extracted at a significantly reduced concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex method to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screen outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a briefer detection period.
• Challenge to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, thereby enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insight: It can provide a usage pattern over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes approximately 5-7 days for drugs to be noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal variations in hair growth can impact the drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: While commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing is Superior: In Rowena, OR, the choice for accurate drug detection is clear. Hair testing outshines urine analysis by providing a longer detection window and remains resistant to adulteration. The reliability of these tests helps employers maintain their zero-tolerance policies more effectively.

Employers and entities find hair follicle testing preferable, as it unveils a comprehensive view of drug use—strikingly more detailed than what urine tests can uncover.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Advantages: Hair follicle tests in Rowena, OR, offer a profound insight into individual substance use, stretching back up to 90 days. This extensive detection span is critical for employers assessing long-term drug use patterns.

With such a broad window of analysis, employers can trust in the thoroughness of their employee screenings, shaping more informed workplace policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Impenetrable Testing Security: Rowena, OR's hair follicle assessments significantly minimize tampering risks, offering a level of assurance that traditional tests cannot match. These tests guarantee reliability.

The inherent difficulty of adulterating a hair-based test solidifies its position as the more dependable choice for institutions seeking clear-cut results free from manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Testing Centers: With a network spanning nationwide, including Rowena, OR, our testing centers ensure ease of access for all clients. Quick, seamless testing services have become our hallmark.

Convenience underpins our operations, with local and widespread locations providing hassle-free testing, reinforcing our commitment to client satisfaction across every geography.

Simple, Confidential Process

Streamlined and Confidential: In Rowena, OR, our hair follicle testing process stands out for its simplicity and privacy. From ordering to testing to receiving results, every step is designed with confidentiality in mind.

The hassle-free process reassures clients about the protection of their personal data, enhancing trust and comfort when opting for drug testing services with us.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Efficiency Meets Speed: In Rowena, OR, our drug testing services combine competitive pricing with rapid results. Our offerings deliver exceptional value, becoming indispensable to businesses of varied sizes needing efficient testing solutions.

Quick turnaround times and affordable pricing reflect our dedication to serving clients effectively, ensuring they remain within budget while receiving top-tier service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Reliable Detection in Rowena, OR: Hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and speed, efficiently revealing substance use. Due to their high accuracy, these assessments have become invaluable in many settings, ensuring quick yet thorough detection.

With hair sample analysis, results swiftly translate into reliable conclusions about an individual's history of use, aiding employers and authorities alike in making informed decisions with confidence.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Confidence: Implementing hair follicle testing in Rowena, OR guarantees adherence to drug-free policies, lowering legal risks. Employers gain peace of mind from maintained workplace safety and compliance.

This method not only fortifies policy enforcement but also reflects a company's commitment to uphold a secure working environment through rigorous substance monitoring.

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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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