Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Thornton, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair drug screening has emerged as an effective means to detect the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers in its growing strands. When taken from near the scalp, hair samples can reveal drug and alcohol use for up to roughly three months. It is easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil), should yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for evaluation and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and those over 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. It’s suggested to weigh the specimen with a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, an identical quantity of body hair may be used. "Head hair" refers solely to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key steps in the lab processing of a drug test include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first step where a sample enters the lab’s system. This step involves confirming the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and doing any necessary data entry not included by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening carries out a preliminary and swift examination for substances of abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly way to dismiss drug use in most samples, a screen that’s positive must be validated to be court-admissible. Samples testing presumptively positive during Screening need a follow-up confirmation.

If the sample shows a presumptive positive during Screening, extra hair from the original sample is utilized for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower degree than with other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is considered the most challenging method to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screened sample is done with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The whole lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is checked under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the accreditation of ISO / IEC 17025.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Offers a pattern of usage: It reveals a timeline of drug use over some time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent intake: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier compared to other drug testing methodologies.
• Differing outcomes: Factors like hair color and individual growth variations can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair samples.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Thornton, WA
In Thornton, hair follicle tests are increasingly preferred over urine tests due to their superior accuracy and dependability. With drug detection spanning up to 90 days, hair testing provides an extensive overview of an individual's drug history. This contrasts with urine tests, which offer a much shorter detection window.

The enhanced reliability of hair testing minimizes uncertainty, particularly in professional settings, making it the favored choice for many organizations committed to maintaining drug-free environments.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Thornton, WA
Hair follicle tests offer a detection window of up to 90 days, surpassing traditional methods like urine tests. This extensive period provides employers and professionals in Thornton with a comprehensive view of substance history, crucial for informed decision-making regarding hiring and monitoring employees.

The prolonged detection capability ensures that past drug use is not overlooked, thus enhancing the safety and reliability of workplace practices.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Thornton, WA
The integrity of hair follicle tests significantly reduces the risks of sample tampering. This method ensures undeniable results, assuaging concerns about sample adulteration that are prevalent with other test types. Employers in Thornton favor this approach for its reliability and precision.

Adopting hair follicle testing as a standard in Thornton guarantees uncontestable outcomes, bolstering confidence in drug testing procedures and outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Thornton, WA
Accredited Drug Testing provides extensive access to testing centers throughout Thornton and nationwide, offering convenience for all clients. Their only mission is to facilitate easy and prompt testing services, avoiding unnecessary travel or delays.

By choosing our services, customers in Thornton have the advantage of nationally recognized centers for efficient and stress-free testing experiences.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Thornton, WA
Patients in Thornton can trust the straightforward and confidential processes offered by Accredited Drug Testing. Ordering, sample taking, and results retrieval are easy, maintaining privacy and confidentiality. The process is designed to be user-friendly and discreet, prioritizing your peace of mind.

With a focus on maintaining confidentiality, the testing procedure underlines simplicity, responding efficiently to customer needs without privacy concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Thornton, WA
Accredited Drug Testing champions competitive pricing and expeditious results turnaround. Companies, regardless of size, encounter unrivaled value for money services. Our pricing structures ensure access to top-notch testing without breaking the bank.

With cost-effective solutions tailored to meet business needs, employers in Thornton benefit from economic advantages and prompt services, reinforcing trust and satisfaction.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Thornton, WA
Harnessing technology, hair follicle drug testing provides rapid, dependable results. The accuracy of detecting substance use is unparalleled, ensuring timely responses for decision-making. Accredited Drug Testing's proficiency in Thornton guarantees swift and precise analysis, catering to both professional and personal needs.

With a significant shift towards hair follicle testing, we ensure that results reflect the highest standards of reliability. Eliminating doubts, this method serves as a cornerstone for accurate drug use detection, crucial for upholding safety and compliance in various circumstances.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Thornton, WA
Hair follicle testing supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies, offering peace of mind for employers in Thornton. It mitigates legal risks and enhances workplace safety, safeguarding company reputation. This reliable testing method ensures that compliance remains robust and unchecked.

Employers benefit from the assurance that comes with comprehensive testing, reinforcing zero-tolerance policies without compromise.

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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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