Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mckenna, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a historic record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair shaft as it grows. By obtaining samples near the scalp, hair analysis can reveal drug and alcohol use history over an approximate 3-month period. It's straightforward to collect, less prone to tampering, and easily transportable.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of about 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and verifying results. For EtG, add-ons, and comprehensive tests beyond 10 panels, it's suggested to use 150mg of the sample. Using a jeweler’s scale is advised for weighing the sample. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other hair types including facial and underarm hair.

Process Overview

There are four primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is processed into a lab’s system. This stage verifies that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any further data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary examination for substance abuse. While it is a budget-friendly measure to negate drug use in most samples, a positive screening must be substantiated before it is permissible in legal settings. Any samples yielding positive indications in Screening necessitate confirmation through additional testing.

Should a sample indicate a positive result in the Screening phase, more hair is drawn from the original sample for the Extraction phase. In this phase, drug substances are isolated from the hair, although at a lower concentration compared to other methods like urine or saliva, making hair drug testing particularly challenging.

Confirmation of any positive screening findings is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo a pre-confirmation washing process as required. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen in accordance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection duration: Hair drug examinations can reveal drug consumption up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to falsify: Hair drug tests are much harder to manipulate, resulting in more trustworthy outcomes.
• Offers historic usage insights: It provides a timeline of drug usage over a span of time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting immediate use: Drugs require approximately 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug examinations tend to be pricier than other testing alternatives.
• Result variability: Mix of factors such as hair color and individual variations in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to the more common urine tests in McKenna, WA, it's clear why many favor the former. Hair tests boast superior detection rates and reliability. Not only do they have a broader detection window, but the accuracy of their results ensures no recent substance use goes unnoticed.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing stands out in McKenna, WA, for its remarkable ability to track drug usage over an extended period, up to 90 days. This comprehensive window allows employers to gain profound insights into an individual's long-term substance use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

McKenna's hair follicle testing solutions dramatically reduce the risk of sample tampering. Crafted to be tamper-resistant, this method guarantees that results remain both reliable and beyond dispute, ensuring confidence in every result obtained.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of multiple testing centers, both nationwide and locally in McKenna, WA, underscores the ease with which individuals and companies can access reliable testing services. These locations ensure swift and uncomplicated access for all testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In McKenna, the hair follicle testing process is designed with simplicity and confidentiality at its core. From ordering and taking the test to receiving the results, each step ensures privacy and user-friendliness, making the entire experience seamless and discreet.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and swift turnaround define McKenna's hair follicle testing services, providing tremendous value for businesses of all sizes. Competitive rates paired with quick results mean companies can maintain efficiency without breaking the bank.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In McKenna, WA, hair follicle tests are renowned for their speed and accuracy in detecting any trace of substance use. Compared to traditional methods, they offer precise results that are highly dependable, ensuring that every test administered reflects an accurate assessment of an individual's substance use history.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Emphasizing compliance and assurance, McKenna's adoption of hair follicle testing enables employers to adhere strictly to drug-free workplace policies. This not only mitigates legal risks but also enhances the overall safety and well-being of employees.

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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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