Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Olympic View, WA

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing is regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fiber of the developing hair shaft. Collected close to the scalp, hair can present a detection period for alcohol and drugs spanning up to nearly three months. It's straightforward to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and effortless to transport.

A 1.5-inch hair sample, consisting of roughly 200 strands (equivalent to the girth of a #2 pencil), amounts to 100mg of hair, which is ideal for preliminary and confirmatory analysis. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen weight of 150mg is suggested. We advise using a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be utilized. By head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. In contrast, body hair encompasses all other hair types, including facial and axillary.

Process Overview

The principal phases involved in processing a drug test through the laboratory are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the primary processing of a sample into a laboratory's system. This process verifies that the sample has been sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry that an electronic chain of custody system might not provide.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening offers an economical method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for court admission. Any samples indicating a potential positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

In cases where a sample indicates a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging procedure.

Positive screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are cleansed prior to confirmation, as required. The full laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is appraised under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for a period of up to 90 days, which is more extended than urine tests.
• Challenging to evade: It is notably challenging to falsify a hair drug test, ensuring more precise results.
• Historical insight: This method provides a pattern of drug usage over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other drug-testing methods.
• Variability in outcomes: Variables like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Olympic View, WA, hair follicle testing offers distinctive benefits compared to traditional urine tests. Hair testing boasts superior detection accuracy, capable of identifying drug use over an extended period. The reliability of this method surpasses that of urine analysis, ensuring more consistent and robust results. Hence, individuals and organizations seeking precise testing often favor the hair method.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage with its extended detection window, covering up to 90 days of drug use history. In Olympic View, WA, this allows employers to gain a comprehensive view of an individual's substance use, better understanding their suitability for a role. This long-term detection capability provides a clearer picture of behavior compared to shorter-term methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing drastically reduces the chances of sample adulteration. In Olympic View, WA, this method ensures reliable and indisputable results due to its inherent resistance against manipulation. Hair tests eliminate the common cheating methods associated with other testing avenues, thereby providing a robust tool in the fight against substance abuse.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations

Our extensive network of testing centers ensures convenient access to hair follicle testing services across the nation, including in Olympic View, WA. The accessibility of local centers guarantees quick and hassle-free service, making it easier for individuals and businesses to meet their testing needs without unnecessary delays or travel.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Olympic View, WA, is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, all steps are straightforward and prioritize privacy. This seamless approach alleviates concerns about data protection and ensures a user-friendly experience for all involved parties.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround

In Olympic View, WA, our competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle drug testing are unmatched. Companies of all sizes appreciate the value offered by our services, which combine affordability with efficiency. This approach ensures organizations can maintain standards without excessive costs or waiting periods.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and quick processing of hair follicle drug testing in Olympic View, WA, make it a superior choice for substance detection. This method showcases remarkable accuracy in identifying drug use, providing peace of mind with its reliable results. Unlike other testing methods, hair testing ensures a thorough analysis, confirming the presence of drugs with minimal room for error.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Olympic View, WA, can ensure complete compliance with drug-free workplace policies by utilizing hair follicle testing. This method minimizes legal risks while enhancing overall workplace safety. By opting for this robust testing type, employers maintain high standards and ensure a safer, healthier work environment, giving them peace of mind.

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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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