Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pine City, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-range account of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's structure. When taken near the scalp, hair can provide roughly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to alter, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch hair sample containing approximately 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, representing the optimal quantity for screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair sample is suggested. We advise measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. The term head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other hair types (including facial and axillary).

Process Summary

The laboratory examination of a drug test involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase of entering a sample into a lab’s database. This step involves confirming the sample’s proper sealing and dispatch, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data input not available via an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs a preliminary check for substance abuse. While it offers a cost-efficient means to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result needs confirmation to be legally valid. Any samples potentially positive in Screening need further validation.

If a sample shows potential positivity during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex method to execute.

Verification of any positive screen result is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples showing potential positivity undergo washing before confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair tests can identify drug use over 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to falsify: Manipulating a hair drug test is highly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It delivers a trend of substance use over time, rather than immediate use alone.

Disadvantages:

• Inability to identify immediate use: Drugs typically become detectable in hair within 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair tests are usually more costly than alternative drug screening methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the level of drug markers in hair.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", this examination analyzes the hair strand, not the underlying follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Pine City, WA: Hair follicle tests outperform traditional urine tests by providing a superior detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, hair screening offers a broader window for substance detection. Its ability to reveal patterns of use over months makes it indispensable for employers seeking trustworthy results.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Pine City, WA: The ability of hair follicle testing to trace drug use over a more prolonged duration (up to 90 days) offers employers a detailed picture of an applicant's or employee's substance use history. This extensive detection range is unmatched by other testing methods, providing more comprehensive insight.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Pine City, WA: Hair follicle tests greatly minimize the chance of sample adulteration, ensuring reliable and indisputable outcomes. Such resilience against tampering offers reassurance to employers, making it a trustworthy screening option.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations in Pine City, WA: The convenience of our widespread testing centers makes access to services simple and straightforward. Whether in Pine City or beyond, our network assures swift, easy, and stress-free availability to testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Pine City, WA: With a straightforward and private procedure for ordering, testing, and obtaining results, concerns regarding privacy and usability are effectively addressed. This ensures that clients experience a hassle-free and secure service.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Pine City, WA: Our competitive pricing models paired with rapid turnaround times deliver exceptional value. Catering to companies of all sizes, we provide peace of mind with our cost-effective and efficient service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Pine City, WA: Hair follicle drug tests offer unparalleled accuracy and speed. These tests are incredibly precise in detecting substance use, making them a preferred choice for those seeking reliable results quickly. The efficiency of hair testing ensures that results are delivered promptly, allowing for faster decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Pine City, WA: Utilizing hair follicle testing helps maintain alignment with workplace drug-free policies, lowering legal risks and promoting a safe working environment. This method provides peace of mind by reinforcing commitment to compliance and safety.

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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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