Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Westfall, OR

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extensive record of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers in the hair strand's fibers. When gathered close to the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively immune to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample containing approximately 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will produce 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for both screening and validation. For EtG, extra evaluations, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's suggested to weigh the hair sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair. "Body hair" encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the first processing of a sample into the lab’s workflow. This step includes confirming that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be accepted in court. Samples that are presumptively positive upon Screening need a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for preparation in Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening outcome is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples suspected to be positive are washed before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the accreditation of ISO / IEC 17025 norms.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, while urine tests have a narrower detection timeframe.
• Challenge to deceive: It is exceedingly hard to manipulate a hair drug test, thereby enhancing results accuracy.
• Delivers historical insight: It can denote a trend of drug consumption over a timeframe, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are usually costlier than other testing modalities.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolites concentration in hair.

Note: While frequently called "hair follicle tests", the evaluation actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle located beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to urine testing in Westfall, OR, the former emerges superior due to its exceptional accuracy and reliability. Hair tests are less susceptible to evasion tactics, making them a powerful tool for obtaining truthful test results and offering much higher detection capabilities.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Westfall, OR, is characterized by its extensive detection window, capable of identifying substance use up to 90 days back. This attribute provides employers with a thorough understanding of a candidate's or employee’s history, surpassing the capabilities of traditional tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Westfall, OR, hair follicle drug testing stands out as a tamper-resistant method, minimizing the likelihood of sample adulteration. Its intrinsic design offers an unyielding approach to obtaining trustworthy and undeniable results, a critical factor in reliable drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing guarantees convenience through our national network of testing facilities, including local sites in Westfall, OR. This widespread accessibility ensures that testing services are quick and hassle-free, simplifying the process significantly for users.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Westfall, OR, is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step prioritizes privacy and ease of use, addressing and alleviating concerns regarding personal information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Westfall, OR, Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and efficient turnaround times for hair follicle drug tests. Our approach ensures outstanding value, supporting companies of all sizes in achieving peace of mind with cost-effective solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Westfall, OR, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their remarkable precision, offering fast and accurate results. They provide substantial benefits in detecting substance use, ensuring that results are both timely and reliable, an essential factor for rigorous drug-screening protocols.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Westfall, OR, incorporating hair follicle testing is pivotal for ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This approach mitigates legal risks while enhancing safety standards, contributing to a conscientious and secure working 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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