Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Loomis, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a powerful method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It provides a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the hair's fibers as it grows. When collected close to the scalp, it covers roughly a 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drug use. Hair is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising around 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and verification. For EtG tests, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we are referring exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test result involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning deals with the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. It includes ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any extra data entry not covered by an electronic custody chain system.

Screening is a preliminary evaluation for substances of abuse. Although it is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed to be valid in court. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most complex method to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screenings is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review 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 period: Hair drug testing can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Cheating difficulty: Hair drug tests are difficult to cheat, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It outlines a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs typically take 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing often costs more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite being often referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests in Loomis, WA. Its superior detection accuracy ensures a comprehensive review of drug use.

Unlike urine testing, hair tests provide a much broader detection window, increasing reliability and making it nearly impossible to alter results.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Loomis, WA, appreciate hair follicle testing for its extended detection window. It monitors substance use over a 90-day period, offering a thorough understanding of an individual's habits.

This comprehensive view assists employers in making informed decisions, reducing the risk of hiring someone involved in substance misuse.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Loomis, WA, are known for their tamper-resistant method. They minimize the risk of adulteration, ensuring high integrity of results.

The collection process is observed, which reduces opportunities for interference, providing results that are reliable and defensible.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide testing facilities, including those in Loomis, WA, offer convenient services. These centers ensure easy and efficient access to drug testing.

The local availability of testing stations simplifies the process, providing hassle-free experiences for all testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Loomis, WA, is straightforward and confidential. Ordering and receiving results is simplified, ensuring privacy throughout.

We address privacy concerns by ensuring a secure process, guaranteeing that individuals feel comfortable and confident throughout the testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Loomis, WA, our competitive pricing structure ensures that clients receive affordable hair follicle testing without compromising on quality.

With fast turnaround times, businesses of any size can benefit from quick results, ensuring peace of mind and excellent value.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Loomis, WA, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its speed and accuracy. This method ensures reliable detection of substances, providing businesses and individuals with confidence in the results.

Hair testing's precise detection capabilities make it ideal for identifying substance use, offering quick and trustworthy outcomes that are seldom matched by other testing methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Loomis, WA, hair follicle testing supports workplace compliance with drug-free policies. It mitigates legal risks, promoting a safe work environment.

Employers find peace of mind knowing that hair testing enhances safety and adherence to regulations, ensuring a dependable workforce.

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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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