Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gilberton, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair examinations have emerged as a formidable technique for pinpointing drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and various other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands of the hair as it grows. When one collects these strands near the scalp, the hair can reveal a detection timeframe of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section containing around 200 hair strands (approximately equivalent to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For screenings involving EtG, additional substances, and/or over 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It is best to measure the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unobtainable, an equivalent quantity of body hair might be utilized. References to head hair specifically pertain to scalp hair only, while body hair encompasses all other hair forms (including facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing sequence for a drug test result includes the stages of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample initially undergoes processing into a lab’s system. This step entails ensuring the sample's seal and shipping were correctly executed, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concluding any supplementary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening executes an initial swiftly conducted assessment for drug traces. Although Screening is an economical approach to negate drug presence in most samples, a positive screen requires subsequent confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening necessitate follow-up confirmation.

If Screening denotes a presumptive positive, more hair is retrieved from the primary specimen for Extraction. At this juncture, the extraction of drugs from hair occurs at substantially lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex method to execute.

Confirmation for any affirmative screening outcome is performed employing GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positives undergo requisite washing before confirmation. The entire lab procedure, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, is audited in line with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and complies with accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests that have a notably reduced detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: The difficulty in manipulating a hair drug test enhances result accuracy.
• Conveys historical insights: It can depict a pattern of substance use over time, not merely the most recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically have higher costs compared to alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination scrutinizes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Gilberton, WA
Hair testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests. It provides superior detection accuracy and reliability, capturing a broader timeline of drug use. This method is less susceptible to tampering, making it a trusted choice among employers dedicated to maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Gilberton, WA
The hair follicle test's ability to detect drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days, offers employers a detailed view of an individual's substance history. This comprehensive insight is invaluable for making informed hiring decisions and ongoing employee assessments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Gilberton, WA
Hair follicle tests significantly curb the risk of sample manipulation. The nature of the test makes it nearly impossible to adulterate, assuring employers and organizations of trustworthy results upon every testing procedure.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Gilberton, WA
With testing centers available nationwide, including in Gilberton, WA, accessing our drug testing services is straightforward and hassle-free. This extensive network ensures that our clients receive prompt and satisfactory service.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Gilberton, WA
Our hair follicle drug testing process is both simple and confidential, designed to respect user privacy at all stages. Ordering, taking the test, and receiving results are seamlessly integrated to allay privacy concerns while ensuring ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Gilberton, WA
We offer competitive pricing structures alongside rapid testing result dissemination. This combination provides excellent value for employers of all sizes, ensuring quick, efficient, and budget-friendly options for managing workplace drug testing needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Gilberton, WA
Hair follicle drug testing stands out for its precision and speed, offering high accuracy in identifying substance use. In Gilberton, the streamlined process ensures that results are both quick and dependable, making it a preferred choice for employers seeking efficient ways to monitor drug use among employees.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Gilberton, WA
Utilizing hair follicle testing assures compliance with drug-free workplace standards. This not only reduces legal exposure but also fosters a safe working environment, promoting peace of mind for employers and enhancing organizational integrity.

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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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