Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hatton, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly regarded as a robust means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strand's fibers. When hair is gathered from near the scalp, it can reveal a detection period of up to three months for alcohol and other substances. The collection process for hair is straightforward, it's challenging to tamper with, and it's easily transportable.

A sample 1.5 inches long consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the perfect amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding ten, 150mg of the sample is suggested. The use of a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. If scalp hair can't be collected, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. References to head hair imply only scalp hair. All other hair types, such as facial and axillary, are termed as body hair.

Process Overview

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

Accessioning marks the beginning of a sample’s journey through a laboratory system. This step includes ensuring the sample’s proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing other data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening involves an initial rapid test for drugs. While Screening is economical for eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples with presumptive positives in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. Drugs are removed from hair at much lower concentrations here compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology.

Positive screening confirmations are conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is meticulously reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter range.
• Hard to deceive: It is extremely challenging to falsify a hair drug test, ensuring results are more accurate.
• Historical usage indication: It reveals patterns of drug use over an extended period, rather than recent usage alone.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically costs more than other methods.
• Result variations: Attributes like hair color and personal hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite presence in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the strand of hair, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Hatton, WA, hair follicle tests provide significant advantages over traditional urine tests. While urine tests focus on recent drug use, hair tests demonstrate extended detection capabilities, making them ideal for assessing long-term substance involvement. This superior accuracy and reliability are crucial for workplaces aiming to uphold high standards.

Extended Detection Window

With a detection window extending up to 90 days, hair follicle tests in Hatton, WA, offer a vast timeline for detecting drug use. Employers gain a comprehensive view of an individual’s substance history, which is key to informed hiring and employment decisions. This extended detection is invaluable for ensuring workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Hatton, WA, the hair follicle testing method significantly curbs attempts to alter or adulterate samples. This tamper-resistant testing ensures results are indisputable and consistent, reducing risks of false outcomes and enhancing the reliability of the entire testing process, which is critical for accurate assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Residents of Hatton, WA, have easy access to convenient testing services via our extensive network of testing centers. Our nationwide and local locations allow quick and stress-free drug testing, ensuring timely access to reliable services. This widespread accessibility is crucial for efficient drug screening processes.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Hatton, WA, the hair follicle testing procedure is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, the process is streamlined to protect privacy and ensure ease of use. This transparency and safeguarding of personal information reassure clients while maintaining high standards of confidentiality and simplicity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Hatton, WA, our hair follicle testing services are not only robust but also competitively priced. With quick turnaround times and affordable costs, companies of all sizes can benefit from excellent value without compromising on the quality of results. This balance is vital for satisfying company needs efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hatton, WA, offers hair follicle drug tests renowned for their precision and efficiency. These tests deliver fast, accurate results, ensuring high-level accuracy in tracking substance use. The streamlined process and reliable outcomes bolster confidence in test results, providing essential data in a timely manner.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Hatton, WA, benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring adherence to strict drug-free workplace policies. This compliance minimizes legal risks and promotes a safer work environment. Hair testing offers employers peace of mind, knowing they maintain a compliant and secure workplace.

Drug Testing Near Hatton, WA

Wheeler, WA

Palouse, WA

Ruff, WA

Ralston, WA

Ayer, WA

Washtucna, WA

Eltopia, WA

Schrag, WA

Basin City, WA

Lind, WA

Othello, WA

Warden, WA

Kahlotus, WA

Connell, WA

Cunningham, 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