Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bitely, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair screening has gained recognition as an effective means for revealing drug and alcohol consumption. Hair preserves a chronic record of alcohol and other substances by encapsulating biomarkers within the structure of the developing hair strand. When acquired near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to obtain, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch length of about 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and validation. For EtG, supplements, and/or examinations beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is suggested to weigh the hair on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not present, a similar quantity of body hair might be used. Scalp hair refers solely to head hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary phases in the lab analysis of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary handling of a specimen into a lab’s workflow. This step checks whether the sample was sealed and shipped appropriately, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any extra data input not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes an initial brief assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening offers an economical approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be permissible in legal proceedings. Any samples deemed presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further verification.

Should a sample be potentially positive during the Screening process, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are withdrawn from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which contributes to the complexity of hair drug screening.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair title and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug examinations can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have briefer detection periods.
• Resistance to tampering: It is exceedingly challenging to falsify a hair drug test, enhancing its result precision.
• Supplies historical insights: It can demonstrate a drug use pattern over a duration, beyond just recent intake.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent use: It requires around 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug examinations are generally pricier than alternative testing methods.
• Results variability: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the test itself evaluates the hair strand rather than the hair follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bitely, MI
Compared to urine tests, hair follicle testing stands out due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. This method offers a more comprehensive analysis of substance use, making it an excellent choice over traditional tests.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bitely, MI
Hair follicle tests provide an extended insight into drug use history, capable of detecting usage over a span of up to 90 days. This gives employers a thorough perspective on an individual's substance habits, ensuring informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bitely, MI
Offering a tamper-proof approach, hair follicle tests significantly minimize the likelihood of sample manipulation. This method ensures that test results remain accurate and unquestionable, a vital feature in reliable testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bitely, MI
With a network of nationwide centers, including Bitely, testing is both accessible and straightforward. This widespread availability ensures that testing is quick, simple, and free of complications for everyone involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bitely, MI
The testing process is designed to be straightforward and confidential. From ordering the test to obtaining the results, all steps prioritize user privacy and ease, addressing any concerns about process integrity and confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bitely, MI
Our competitive pricing and rapid results turnaround provide unparalleled value. Tailored to cater to businesses of any size, this approach ensures expense efficiency and swift, dependable outcomes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bitely, MI
Hair follicle testing delivers rapid insights with unmatched accuracy in tracking substance use. Its precision in detecting even the slightest trace of drugs ensures a dependable outcome, crucial for peace of mind.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bitely, MI
By integrating hair follicle testing, employers can better adhere to drug-free workplace policies, lowering legal risks while boosting workplace safety and security. It offers peace of mind that employee testing is thorough and reliable.

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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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