Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sunnyside, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is widely recognized as an effective means of identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a comprehensive account of alcohol and drug usage over an extended period. When taken from the area near the scalp, hair can reveal substance use for up to about 90 days. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A hair specimen measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil), yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or screenings beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair is not obtainable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types (including facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the process where a sample is initially logged into the lab's system. This step involves checking that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, giving it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional information entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening carries out a preliminary scan for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical way to rule out drug presence in most samples, any positive screens require confirmation to be used legally. Any samples that presumptively test positive in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.

If a Screening stage suspects a positive result, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. Here, substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other tests (like urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmation for any positive Screening outcomes is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. Presumptive positive samples undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The complete lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, ensuring more reliable results.
• Provides historical data: It can track patterns of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs typically become detectable in hair around 5-7 days after use.
• Cost: Hair drug tests generally cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Factors including hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Even though they are frequently called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Sunnyside, OR, hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage over traditional urine tests. Hair tests provide a wider detection window and are known for their superior accuracy and reliability. They offer a more comprehensive assessment, demonstrating an applicant's or employee's substance use history, and help maintain a safer and more compliant work environment.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Sunnyside, OR can benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle testing. This method can trace drug use back up to 90 days, offering a thorough examination of an individual's substance habits. This gives employers an extensive overview of potential employees' or current staff's history, beyond what urine tests can provide.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method that is used widely in Sunnyside, OR. This reduces the possibility of sample adulteration, ensuring accurate and unquestionable results. The reliability of these tests makes them a preferable option for organizations looking to maintain robust drug-free workplace policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Sunnyside, OR boasts convenient nationwide testing centers, making hair follicle testing easy and accessible. Our vast network ensures that individuals and organizations can access testing services with minimal hassle, enhancing the accessibility and efficiency of our screening processes.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Sunnyside, OR is simple and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving results, the procedure is designed to respect privacy while being user-friendly. This ensures that all concerns regarding privacy and procedural simplicity are addressed swiftly and effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Hair follicle testing in Sunnyside, OR is not just reliable but also affordable. With competitive pricing structures and fast turnaround times, our testing services offer excellent value, meeting the needs of companies of all sizes while providing peace of mind regarding budget and testing efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Sunnyside, OR is renowned for its fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. The precision of these tests is unparalleled, offering high accuracy in the detection of substance use. This reliability provides peace of mind to employers looking to ensure a drug-free workplace while maintaining swift and efficient testing processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing in Sunnyside, OR offers compliance and peace of mind for employers. By using this reliable testing method, organizations can adhere to workplace drug-free policies, significantly decreasing legal risks and enhancing the overall safety of the work environment.

Drug Testing Near Sunnyside, OR

Powellhurst, OR

Riverside, OR

Clackamas, OR

Damascus, OR

Milwaukie, OR

Oak Grove, OR

Gladstone, OR

Jennings Lodge, OR

Northwest Clackamas, OR

Oatfield, OR

Johnson City, OR

Happy Valley, OR

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews