Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Langley, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended record of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the hair strand fibers as they grow. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeframe of up to around 90 days for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of roughly 200 hairs (comparable to a #2 pencil in size) near the scalp will yield 100mg, the optimal amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, extra tests, and/or panels above 10, 150mg of hair is advisable. It's best to weigh the hair using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we refer to scalp hair exclusively. Body hair denotes other hair types (such as facial or underarm hair).

Process Overview

The essential phases in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab’s system. This covers ensuring the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigning a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and fulfilling any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening is an economical means of confirming the absence of drug use in most samples, a positive result needs verification to be court-admissible. Samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample tests preliminarily positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or saliva), which is why hair drug testing is among the most complex techniques to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening finding is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All sampled hair that shows preliminary positivity is cleaned before confirmation, as required. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can detect drug use for up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter detection periods of urine tests.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Shows historical use: It can illustrate a trend of drug use over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Fails to reveal recent use: Drugs typically become detectable in hair 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: While commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests," the evaluation actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The Superiority of Hair Over Urine Tests in Langley, WA

Hair follicle testing offers clear advantages over traditional urine tests. It provides a broader detection window and heightened accuracy, expelling concerns over false negatives or positives.

Unlike urine tests, which reflect recent drug use, hair tests give a comprehensive insight into substance use history, making it an ideal test for a complete overview.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Drug Detection in Langley, WA

With a detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle tests deliver detailed insights into an individual’s long-term substance usage.

This extended coverage allows employers to evaluate a clear and extensive profile of an employee’s or job candidate’s drug use history, ensuring informed decisions are made during hiring.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Impenetrable Sample Security in Langley, WA

Hair follicle testing delivers tamper-proof results, virtually eliminating sample adulteration or manipulation.

Its high reliability ensures that every test conducted is authentic and unquestionable, providing employers with assurance that the results truly reflect the person’s drug use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Across Langley, WA

With numerous testing locations nationwide, including those in Langley, WA, accessing our hair follicle testing is hassle-free.

Our widespread network ensures that scheduling and undergoing tests is quick and smooth, providing seamless access to our reliable drug testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplified and Confidential in Langley, WA

Our streamlined testing process ensures simplicity from ordering to receiving results while maintaining privacy.

Take comfort knowing your testing needs are handled with discretion, making the entire experience straightforward and confidential, easing any privacy-related concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-effective and Efficient in Langley, WA

With competitively priced testing options and swift turnaround times, our hair follicle tests represent great value for companies.

Whether for small or large businesses, our affordable pricing and efficient results provide confidence and good return on investment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Precise Testing in Langley, WA

Hair follicle drug testing stands out for its quick, reliable results. With cutting-edge technology employed, results are obtained with remarkable speed, providing high accuracy in showing substance use.

The unparalleled precision of this testing method makes it a preferred choice for those seeking timely and credible results, ensuring peace of mind in personal or professional circumstances.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Workplace Compliance in Langley, WA

Hair follicle testing greatly aids in maintaining compliance with drug-free policies, important for legal protection and workplace safety.

Employers can rely on these tests to ensure their safety protocols are adhered to, reducing risks and fostering a safer, more productive environment.

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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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