Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Silver Lake, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments have gained recognition as an effective means to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period extending up to roughly three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to obtain, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and uncomplicated to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a sample of 150mg is suggested. We advise utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial incorporation of a sample into a laboratory's framework. This encompasses confirming that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any supplementary data entry not incorporated by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial swift assessment for substances of abuse. While screening is an economical approach to exclude drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive result must be confirmed to be valid in a legal context. Any samples that generate presumptive positive results in screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

If screening indicates a presumptively positive result, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, substances are removed from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in alternate methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for hair drug screening being the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a presumptive positive result are cleansed prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is supervised under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and certified to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to manipulate: It is extremely challenging to falsify a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Cannot identify recent consumption: Drugs become identifiable in hair in about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments are typically costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Caution: Despite being commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Silver Lake, OR, the advantages of hair follicle tests over urine tests are becoming widely recognized.
Longer Detection: Offering a broader window for detection, hair tests reveal usage up to 90 days as opposed to urine's limited days.
Accuracy and Trust: Hair follicle tests ensure precision and reduce adulteration risk, enhancing test integrity and reliability, preferred by employers and legal entities.

Extended Detection Window

Silver Lake, OR, stands out with its extended detection window offered by hair follicle tests.
Up to 90 Days: Unlike urine tests, hair testing provides insights into drug activity over a three-month span.
Comprehensive View: Employers gain a fuller perspective of an individual's substance history, aiding in reliable employment or compliance decisions through extended analysis.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Silver Lake, OR, present a tamper-resistant solution to drug screening.
Reduced Adulteration: Tampering with hair samples is notably difficult compared to urine.
Reliable Outcomes: With this method, achieve unquestionable results that are free from manipulation, offering fair consequences for applicants and employees.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With nationwide and local centers, Silver Lake, OR, offers convenient testing locations.
Easy Access: Enjoy hassle-free testing services, thanks to our widespread and accessible locations.
Quick Availability: Nationwide presence ensures minimal wait times and efficient service, making drug testing straightforward and convenient for all.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Silver Lake, OR, our hair testing process is both simple and confidential.
User-Friendly: The step-by-step procedure is easy to follow, minimizing complications.
Privacy Assured: From ordering to result retrieval, individuals are guaranteed confidentiality, providing peace of mind through secure and private handling of sensitive information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Silver Lake, OR, offers affordably priced hair testing services with swift turnaround.
Competitive Rates: Our pricing structures deliver excellent value without compromising on quality.
Fast Results: Enjoy prompt service delivery, ensuring companies of all sizes maintain workflow continuity without delays, balancing cost-efficiency with effective drug screening.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Silver Lake, OR, our hair follicle drug tests offer unparalleled precision and promptness.
Precision: Highly effective at identifying substance use, these tests surpass traditional methods in accuracy.
Timeliness: Experience swift and accurate results that facilitate informed decisions without undue delays, offering peace of mind to employers and institutions alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Silver Lake, OR, achieve compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle tests.
Policy Adherence: Ensures that workplace drug-free policies are met, enhancing legal compliance.
Enhanced Safety: By using dependable testing, employers reduce risks and promote a secure work environment, creating a safer and more productive atmosphere.

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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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