Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Silverton, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a formidable means of identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can encapsulate biomarkers within the structure of its growing strands, offering a prolonged record of substance use. When collected near the scalp, hair can present a detection span for alcohol and other substances up to roughly 3 months. Gathering hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment composed of about 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair - the optimal amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those beyond 10 panels, 150mg is advised. It's best to measure the sample's weight using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unattainable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. References to head hair strictly imply scalp hair. Body hair includes all other kinds (facial, armpit, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of drug test outcomes comprises four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning denotes the preliminary intake of a sample into the lab’s system. This phase involves confirming the sample's secure sealing and shipping, attributing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening represents an initial rapid drug of abuse check. While Screening offers a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug use in the bulk of samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptive positive samples from Screening necessitate subsequent verification.

If a Screening phase identifies a sample as presumptively positive, more hair is collected from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at substantially lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), underscoring the complexity of hair drug testing.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS facilitates the Confirmation of any positive Screenings. Prior to any confirmation, all presumptive positive samples undergo a wash as warranted. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes auditing per both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests reveal drug use over a span of up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter timeframe of urine tests.
• Cheating is challenging: Tampering with hair drug tests is exceedingly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historic data provision: The test can even indicate drug use patterns over time, not solely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Typically drugs become detectable in hair around 5-7 days post-use.
• Expenses: Generally, hair drug testing costs exceed those of other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentrations in hair can be influenced by hair color and individual differences in hair growth.

Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", the procedure evaluates the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Silverton, OR, hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine tests by offering a superior detection window and unmatched accuracy. It excels in providing a more reliable assessment of drug use, ensuring that employers can make informed decisions. Unlike urine tests, which cover shorter time frames, hair tests capture a broader history of an individual’s substance use.

Extended Detection Window

In Silverton, OR, hair follicle testing provides employers with an edge of long-term substance detection. With the ability to trace drug use up to 90 days back, it enables a detailed understanding of an employee’s or applicant’s substance history. Employers gain insights into longer patterns of use, offering a more comprehensive view than short-term tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Silverton, OR hair follicle testing is renowned for its inherent tamper resistance, reducing the risk of adulteration significantly. The test process is meticulous and ensures that results remain uncompromised. This adds a layer of security for employers seeking unquestionable results in their drug testing procedures.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Nationwide and local testing centers in Silverton, OR add to the convenience Accredited Drug Testing offers. Quick and easy access to our facilities ensures that individuals and companies can engage our services with minimal hassle, promoting efficiency in meeting testing requirements.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our hair follicle testing in Silverton, OR offers a straightforward and confidential process. Ordering, taking, and receiving results are seamless, upholding privacy and ease of use. This simplicity addresses any concerns about testing procedures while ensuring clients’ information remains secure throughout the experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Silverton, OR stands out with its affordable pricing and swift turnaround times. Our competitive pricing structure provides exceptional value, making it a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes seeking reliable drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Silverton, OR stand out for their remarkable precision in detecting substance use. These tests are fast and accurate, offering high reliability for identifying drug usage. Its thorough nature ensures that employers feel confident in the results they receive, benefiting from the speed and comprehensive coverage the hair testing provides.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Silverton, OR ensures compliance and peace of mind for employers. By integrating this testing method, companies uphold drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks while enhancing safety. This proactive approach not only fulfills regulatory requirements but also supports a healthier work 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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