Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Woodmont Beach, WA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has garnered recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair chronicles a protracted record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fiber of the maturing hair strand. When acquired from the scalp, hair can yield a detection timeframe of nearly three months for alcohol and drugs. The collection of hair is straightforward, comparatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient for transport.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising approximately 200 hair strands (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, it is advisable to procure 150mg of the sample. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent volume of body hair may be obtained. The term head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The procedure for processing a drug test result in the lab encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary input of a sample into a lab’s system. This step includes ensuring that the sample was properly sealed and delivered, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any extra data entry that is not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening provides a cost-efficient means to eliminate the presence of drugs in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be admissible in legal proceedings. Any samples with an initial positive result in Screening require further confirmation.

Should a sample test positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for preparation in the Extraction phase. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at concentrations significantly lower than those in alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening one of the most complex methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Prior to confirmation, all samples with presumed positive results are cleansed as needed. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the criteria of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair endorsement and the compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests may identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a briefer detection span.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Provides chronological data: It offers insights into drug consumption patterns over time, not solely recent usage.

Drawbacks:

• Incapable of detecting recent consumption: Detection of drugs in hair requires 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug screening techniques.
• Result variations: Hair color and individual differences in hair growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Woodmont Beach, WA, hair follicle testing offers remarkable advantages over urine tests. Hair tests detect drugs over an extended period, up to 90 days, while urine tests have a limited window.

• Longer history of drug use.
• More comprehensive evaluation.

Extended Detection Window

With an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle tests in Woodmont Beach, WA, provide employers with a detailed view of an individual's substance use history. Benefits:

• Comprehensive substance history.
• Long-term evaluation.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Woodmont Beach, WA, is notably tamper-resistant, minimizing the risk of sample adulteration. Why choose hair testing?

• Reduces tampering risk.
• Provides reliable results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Woodmont Beach, WA, provides unmatched convenience with nationwide testing centers. Benefits include:

• Easy access to testing services.
• Fast and streamlined process.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing process in Woodmont Beach, WA, is straightforward and confidential. Steps include:

• Simple ordering process.
• Discrete testing procedures.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Woodmont Beach, WA, our affordable pricing and fast turnaround times make hair follicle testing an excellent value for businesses of all sizes. Key points:

• Competitive pricing structures.
• Rapid result delivery.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Woodmont Beach, WA, the speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled, offering trustworthy detection of substance use.
Fast results: With an efficient processing system, results are received swiftly.

• High accuracy
• Minimal chances of error

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

By adopting hair follicle testing, employers in Woodmont Beach, WA, ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks and promoting safety. Advantages:

• Adherence to policy.
• Minimal legal exposure.

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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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