Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Royal City, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive timeline of substance use by securing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When retrieved near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a 90-day detection period for drugs and alcohol. Collection is straightforward, it's relatively tamper-resistant, and shipping is convenient.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 hair strands (or the girth of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirming results. For EtG assessments or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is recommended. In cases where scalp hair isn't obtainable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair pertain exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other varieties (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The drug test laboratory procedure consists of four principal phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first step in processing a sample within a laboratory's system. This step involves checking that the sample has been sealed and transported correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any manual data entry that isn't captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial, rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While it's an economical way to exclude drug use in most specimens, a positive screening necessitates confirmation for legal acceptability. Specimens with presumptive positive results in Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the specimen and prepared for Extraction. This stage involves removing drugs from hair at concentrations significantly lower than other testing methods (like urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug tests are notably challenging to conduct.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques are used to confirm any positive screening results. Presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and certified to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection timeframe: Hair drug tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which cover a shorter timeframe.
• High integrity: Hair drug tests are challenging to manipulate, enhancing result accuracy.
• Tracks historical data: It shows a usage pattern over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Can't detect immediate use: It generally requires 5-7 days for hair to show drug traces.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than other testing options.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and growth differences can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Royal City, WA, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests due to its extended detection scope and accuracy. Hair tests can trace substances much further back compared to urine tests, offering a clearer view of an individual's drug history. This advantage makes hair testing optimal for clients seeking reliable and conclusive results over a more extended time frame.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests stand out in Royal City, WA, for detecting substance use over a prolonged period—up to 90 days. This lengthy window enables employers to gain an in-depth perspective on an individual's past drug use, providing a thorough assessment of long-term substance habits. It’s an essential tool for employers who require comprehensive background checks.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Royal City, WA, significantly reduces tampering risks, providing reliable and indisputable results. Unlike other methods, the chance of adulterating or substituting samples is minimal, ensuring the integrity of the testing process, and instilling confidence in the results obtained from these tests.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing services nationwide, including in Royal City, WA, accessing drug testing locations is streamlined and hassle-free. Our widespread network ensures quick and easy testing access, providing a vast array of testing centers situated locally and across the country for optimal convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Royal City, WA, the process of ordering, undertaking, and receiving results from a hair follicle test is simple and confidential. Emphasizing ease of use, this method addresses privacy concerns effectively, ensuring individuals’ test-related activities remain secure and straightforward from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround for drug testing services in Royal City, WA, our hair follicle testing ensures affordability and swift results. Companies of various sizes benefit from great value and assurance, balancing cost efficiency and timely outcomes for essential workplace drug testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Ensuring precision and quick results, hair follicle drug tests in Royal City, WA, are reliable for detecting substance use. The method’s high accuracy allows for swift identification of drug traces in an individual's system. The tests rapidly generate thorough reports, making them essential for timely and reliable assessments in various settings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Royal City, WA, attain compliance and peace of mind using hair follicle tests to enforce drug-free workplace policies. It diminishes legal vulnerabilities and enhances workplace safety, making it a preferred choice for maintaining strict adherence to drug policies and securing the workplace environment.

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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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