Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Grand Mound, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to about three months for alcohol and other substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, harder to tamper with, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It's best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When referencing head hair, it pertains to scalp hair alone. Body hair denotes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Procedure Summary

The four critical stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into the lab's system. This involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for abusive substances. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be legally valid. Samples indicating a probable positive result in Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive result during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for preparation in Extraction. During this stage, substances are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration than in other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are washed before confirmation as needed. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug use up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection period.
• Test integrity: It is extremely challenging to deceive a hair drug test, ensuring more accurate outcomes.
• Historical insight: It can provide a long-term pattern of drug use, not just recent activity.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair after roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result inconsistencies: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", this test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why choose hair follicle testing over urine tests in Grand Mound, WA? Superior detection accuracy is key. Hair tests offer a broader view, showcasing consistency in drug identification over time.

Extended detection windows make hair tests reliable compared to urine tests, which are more immediate but narrower in scope. This thorough analysis builds confidence in the screening process.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Grand Mound, WA, provides valuable insights into an individual's substance use over the past 90 days. This longer detection period equips employers with a comprehensive view of a candidate or employee's drug history.

Unlike other methods, hair testing doesn't fail to capture infrequent use, reading over months, not days.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tampering with hair follicle tests is nearly impossible, providing credible results in Grand Mound, WA. The sample's resistance to adulteration ensures accurate findings.

This integrity is crucial for employers and courts seeking uncontested evidence of drug use. Hair testing's robustness minimizes the possibility of false negatives or evasion tactics.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With a network of testing centers nationwide, our services are accessible in Grand Mound, WA. Benefit from hassle-free and convenient testing anywhere.

Local and nationwide presence means you won’t struggle to secure appointments. This ease aids both employers and individuals, ensuring tests are conducted at their convenience without delay.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplicity and confidentiality mark our testing process in Grand Mound, WA. The straightforward test ordering and result receipt ensure all dealings remain private.

Addressing privacy concerns, our confidential approach reassures clients, instilling trust in the integrity of their results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Grand Mound, WA, we offer competitive pricing structures for our hair follicle testing services. This affordability ensures companies of all sizes receive excellent value.

Fast turnaround times further assure clients of superior service, reinforcing confidence in our capability to meet various organizational needs efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Grand Mound, WA, hair follicle drug tests offer fast and highly accurate results. The precision in detecting a variety of substances ensures stakeholders receive reliable data promptly.

This testing method identifies drug use with unmatched accuracy, reflecting its importance. Employers in Grand Mound trust the speed and dependability of these results, enhancing the decision-making process.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Grand Mound, WA, gain compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. Ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies reduces legal risks and promotes safety.

Confidence in employees' substance use status translates into a more trustworthy workplace environment, fostering integrity across all levels of an organization.

Drug Testing Near Grand Mound, WA

Grandview, WA

Clinton, WA

Davenport, WA

Preston, WA

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