Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Chesaw, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a potent instrument for identifying drug and alcohol use. The hair stores historical data of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the growing hair's fibers. When cut close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to around 3 months for both alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment with approximately 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or screenings exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It's recommended to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable quantity of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory treatment of a drug test result includes four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the sample's initial integration into a laboratory’s system. This process involves confirming the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening comprises an initial swift examination for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug use in the bulk of samples, a positive result needs validation to be acceptable in legal proceedings. Samples that appear positive in Screening must undergo further confirmation.

If Screening suggests a positive result, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and is prepped for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at a reduced concentration compared to other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing the most challenging technique to execute.

Any confirmed positive screening result is verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug screenings can identify drug consumption up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests which have a briefer detection timeframe.
• Challenging to falsify: It is exceptionally hard to deceive a hair drug test, ensuring higher accuracy of results.
• Gives historical insight: It provides a regular pattern of drug use over time, rather than immediate usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug screenings cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result discrepancies: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand instead of the beneath-scalp hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Chesaw, WA, hair follicle testing outshines urine testing by providing a more accurate and trustworthy approach. Unlike urine tests, hair testing analyzes drug usage over extended periods, revealing behaviors that might otherwise go undetected.

Employers favor hair testing due to its superior detection range and almost foolproof reliability, making it difficult to manipulate, thereby maintaining the integrity of results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Chesaw, WA, offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days, permitting a thorough review of an individual's past substance use. This broader view assists employers in assessing consistency in behavior, crucial for hiring decisions.

Employers and organizations can rely on this prolonged detection period to better evaluate any patterns in drug use, thereby enhancing their decision-making process.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Chesaw, WA, hair follicle tests significantly diminish sample adulteration risks, offering reliable results that withstand scrutiny. Unlike urine tests, hair samples aren't easy to tamper with, thus securing the test's authenticity.

This resilience against tampering makes hair follicle testing a trustworthy method for ensuring accurate and credible results in drug testing programs. Employers can thus be at ease regarding the test's outcome.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures convenience for Chesaw, WA clients with nationwide testing centers. This network facilitates quick and hassle-free access to our reliable testing services, promoting swift recovery of test results.

With various centers available locally, individuals and organizations can access state-of-the-art testing without inconvenience, ensuring prompt service across the board.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Chesaw, WA, our process for hair follicle testing is both straightforward and confidential. Individuals can easily order, take, and receive results while their privacy is safeguarded.

These streamlined procedures ensure ease of use, addressing any privacy concerns and making the testing experience smooth and customer-centric, aligned with personal and organizational needs.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Chesaw, WA provides competitive pricing for hair follicle testing, coupled with rapid result turnaround times. Our services represent an excellent choice for companies seeking value and reliability.

Fast processing and results contribute to a timely and efficient testing experience, valuable to organizations of varying sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests in Chesaw, WA, make them a preferred choice. These tests deliver high accuracy in identifying substance use, offering clear and prompt results.
Hair tests provide dependable results swiftly, supporting employers and individuals in making informed decisions promptly.

The complete hair analysis ensures that the findings are free from common adulterations seen in urine tests, making hair testing a reliable method.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Chesaw, WA employers, employing hair follicle testing helps maintain compliance with workplace drug-free policies, while also reducing legal liabilities. This testing method supports a safer working environment by reinforcing non-tolerance programs.

The assurance of remaining compliant and lowering risks grants peace of mind to companies emphasizing safety and adherence to legislative standards.

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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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