Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Longbranch, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective measure for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair offers an extended timeline for detecting alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the growing hair strand. If collected near the scalp, hair can reveal usage history for up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch portion consisting of approximately 200 pieces of hair (similar to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for tests and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair might be utilized. Regarding head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair covers all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary phases in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary handling of a sample into a lab’s system. It involves confirming the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial fast assessment for drugs. Although it’s a cost-effective approach to exclude drug use in most samples, positive screens must be validated to be court-admissible. Any samples that indicate a presumptive positive in Screening need subsequent confirmation.

If a sample indicates a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. At this point, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory process ranging from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to manipulate: It’s notably difficult to cheat on a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Supplies historical insights: It can exhibit a timeline of drug use over a span, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Can’t detect recent use: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests typically cost more compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Variability in outcomes: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the test itself assesses the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Longbranch, WA, hair follicle testing offers notable advantages over standard urine tests. These advantages include enhanced precision and reliability in substance detection. Hair tests can uncover drug usage over a more extended period and are less prone to tampering than urine tests, giving companies and other entities a dependable assessment of an individual's substance use.

Employers and courts in Longbranch, WA, choose hair follicle testing due to its heightened accuracy compared to urine tests. The ability of hair tests to recognize drug presence up to 90 days back significantly outperforms urine, which generally detects recent drug use only. This broader detection window provides a clearer view of an individual's history, making it especially valuable for employment screenings and legal compliance.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing, available in Longbranch, WA, proves invaluable for employers looking to evaluate long-term substance use. Unlike urine tests that offer a short-term view, hair tests can identify drug presence up to 90 days prior, granting a more comprehensive overview of an employee or candidate's substance use history.

Employers in Longbranch, WA, benefit from the prolonged detection period of hair follicle drug tests, which cover up to three months of potential substance use. This extensive timeframe allows for an in-depth understanding of an individual's habits, far surpassing the capabilities of other testing methods, thereby promoting informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Longbranch, WA, hair follicle tests are highly regarded for their resistance to tampering, providing reliable and incontestable results. Unlike urine tests, which are susceptible to various forms of adulteration, hair testing offers a robust collection method that virtually eliminates the risk of tampering, ensuring the integrity of the test results.

With hair follicle testing in Longbranch, WA, the level of security in sample integrity is significantly heightened. The process's design makes it nearly impossible for someone to alter the sample, thereby offering organizations and legal institutions confidence in the accuracy and legitimacy of the test outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Longbranch, WA, the convenience provided by our nationwide network of testing centers cannot be overstated. Accredited Drug Testing ensures hassle-free and quick access to services, with local testing facilities available to meet your needs swiftly and efficiently, keeping the process streamlined and accessible.

With numerous centers across the country, including in Longbranch, WA, our testing facilities promise ease and accessibility. The presence of local testing locations minimizes travel and wait times, ensuring that individuals and employers can complete necessary testing effortlessly and promptly.

Simple, Confidential Process

Accredited Drug Testing in Longbranch, WA, provides a simple, confidential testing process that respects privacy and ease of execution. From ordering tests to receiving confidential results, every step is designed to be user-friendly and secure, addressing any concerns about privacy and convenience.

Situated in Longbranch, WA, our testing procedures at Accredited Drug Testing prioritize simplicity and confidentiality. The entire process, from test ordering to result delivery, is streamlined and secure, assuring clients of their privacy while simplifying their experience at every stage.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Longbranch, WA, Accredited Drug Testing offers competitively priced hair follicle testing with fast turnaround, providing excellent value for organizations of all sizes. Our pricing strategy coupled with prompt results ensures that companies can maintain their budgets without compromising quality or efficiency.

Our hair follicle testing in Longbranch, WA, guarantees affordability without sacrificing the integrity and speed of the testing process. Companies can benefit from our cost-effective services, with rapid delivery of results, adding substantial value by supporting sound decision-making and policy reinforcement.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Longbranch, WA, the advantages of hair follicle drug tests are clear through their fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests are designed to rapidly detect substance use with high precision, minimizing the chances of error and accelerating the turnaround time for results. This efficient detection method is trusted by employers and legal entities alike.

Hair follicle drug testing in Longbranch, WA, has gained recognition for its accuracy and speed. Unlike other testing methods, hair testing ensures results that are both dependable and timely. This swift process helps facilitate quick decision-making, which is essential in employment and legal scenarios where individuals' histories are assessed.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Longbranch, WA, allows employers to adhere to drug-free workplace policies effectively, thereby reducing legal risks and fostering a safe work environment. This testing method guarantees compliance and peace of mind as it presents a reliable, long-term view of employee substance use.

In Longbranch, WA, employers are finding reassurance in incorporating hair follicle drug tests into their protocol. This approach not only supports compliance with workplace policies but also promotes strategic planning and informed decision-making to maintain a secure and legally sound workplace.

Drug Testing Near Longbranch, WA

Boston Harbor, WA

Steilacoom, WA

Ketron, WA

Arletta, WA

Fox Island, WA

Anderson Island, WA

Home, WA

Lower Peninsula, WA

Lakebay, WA

Yoman, WA

Meridian, 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