Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lake Tapps, 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 alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. When cut close to the skin, hair can reveal a detection window of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to send.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches, with about 200 strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for testing and validating. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It’s advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes any other hair types (such as facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in processing a lab-based drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning incorporates the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory system. This involves confirming the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening supplies a rapid check for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective means to eliminate drug use in the bulk of samples, a positive screening must be verified to be used as evidence in legal proceedings. All samples with presumptive positives in Screening need secondary confirmation.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which presents a challenge as hair drug testing is the most intricate to execute.

Examination of any positive screening outcome is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined following both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can trace drug usage over as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests, which offer a lesser detection timeframe.
• Reduced possibility of deception: It's notably hard to deceive a hair drug test, increasing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It allows observation of drug consumption trends over time, not just immediate use.

Limitations:

• Insufficient for detecting recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug analyses tend to cost more than other testing modalities.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can alter drug metabolite concentration levels in hair.

Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis targets the hair strand itself, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Lake Tapps, WA, the advantages of hair testing are clear. Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests might catch recent drug use, hair tests provide a broader view, enduring up to 90 days, which significantly enhances their diagnostic capability and dependability.

Extended Detection Window

One of the standout features of hair follicle testing is its ability to trace drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days. In Lake Tapps, WA, this extended detection window presents employers with a thorough history of a potential employee's substance habits, assisting in informed decision-making based on evidence of long-term behavior.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Completely reliable and practically tamper-proof, hair follicle tests in Lake Tapps, WA, minimize the risk of adulteration. This robust testing method ensures that the results are accurate and unquestionable, providing both employers and individuals with results they can trust without concerns of manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Discover the convenience of easily accessible testing locations available nationwide, including those in Lake Tapps, WA. Our vast network ensures that drug testing is always within reach, simplifying the process and making it hassle-free for individuals and organizations alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Lake Tapps, WA, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step is streamlined and discreet, ensuring that your privacy is respected and the entire experience is user-friendly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With a focus on affordability and swift service, our drug testing in Lake Tapps, WA offers competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times. This combination provides businesses of all sizes with excellent value while safeguarding their operational interests, making our services both accessible and efficient.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Lake Tapps, WA make them a top choice for detecting substance use efficiently. These tests are known for their remarkable accuracy, providing reliable insight into an individual's drug history. With advanced techniques, the results you receive are both fast and trustworthy, ensuring peace of mind in critical situations.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Lake Tapps, WA can rest assured that hair follicle testing will uphold compliance with drug-free workplace statutes. This testing method reduces potential legal risks and enhances safety, giving managers peace of mind that their environment is secure and regulatory obligations are met.

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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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