Hair Follicle Drug Testing - South Umpqua, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly viewed as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol use. It offers an extended history of substance use by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the developing hair strand. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and various drugs. Collection of hair is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment, consisting of around 200 strands of hair (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) proximal to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for screening and confirmation processes. For EtG add-ons and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's recommended to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be taken. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair only, while body hair includes all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test result laboratory procedure encompasses four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial intake of a sample into the laboratory’s system. This process verifies the sample’s proper sealing and shipping, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. While Screening offers a cost-efficient method for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for court admissibility. Any Screening-presumptive positives do require further confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is noted as the most challenging to execute.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS confirm any positive screening outcome. All samples testing presumptive positive are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation as well as the ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a briefer detection range.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is notably hard, enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical insight: It supplies drug use patterns over time, instead of indicating only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to be observable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually exceed the cost of other testing options.
• Result variances: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the examination analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle found under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing in South Umpqua, OR, offers superior detection accuracy and reliability. It has a longer detection window, allowing for broader assessment of drug history. Employers and professionals across various fields prefer it for its robust outcomes, minimizing chances of inaccuracies.

Extended Detection Window

One of the significant advantages of hair follicle testing in South Umpqua, OR, is its extended detection period, lasting up to 90 days. This capability provides employers with a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance use history, crucial for thorough background checks.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in South Umpqua, OR, is renowned for its tamper-resistant method. Its design significantly reduces the likelihood of sample adulteration, ensuring that results remain trustworthy and indisputable. This robust process protects the integrity of the test results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing centers nationwide, including in South Umpqua, OR, offer convenience for customers seeking hassle-free access. The widespread availability of our locations ensures quick and easy testing services, making it simple for individuals and organizations to meet their testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in South Umpqua, OR, is both simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, it prioritizes the privacy of individuals while maintaining an easy-to-follow process that ensures comfort and peace of mind for all participants.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In South Umpqua, OR, our competitive pricing and fast turnaround times set us apart. We offer excellent value, with affordable options that cater to companies of all sizes. Our efficient services ensure peace of mind with quick reports and economic feasibility.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In South Umpqua, OR, the hair follicle test's speed and precision in detecting substances stand out. It offers quick and highly accurate results, which are crucial for those needing fast screenings. This efficiency doesn't compromise reliability, ensuring that individuals receive dependable outcomes swiftly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing aids South Umpqua, OR, employers in adhering to drug-free workplace policies. Ensuring compliance minimizes legal risks and enhances workplace safety, fostering an environment where employers enjoy peace of mind about employees' adherence to policy.

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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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