Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bridgeport, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as an effective instrument in detecting drug and alcohol use. It provides a long-term profile of alcohol and drugs by locking biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When sourced near the scalp, hair delivers up to about a 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp will produce 100mg of hair, which is the ideal sample for assessment and verification. For EtG, additional assays, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's suggested to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't present, a similar quantity of body hair might be taken. When discussing head hair, it refers solely to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary four phases in lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s system. This includes confirming that the sample remained sealed and shipped appropriately, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data entry not offered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid check for substance misuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient way to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive result must be verified to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples tentatively positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is tentatively positive in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen and made ready for Extraction. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), illustrating why hair drug screening is the most challenging method to conduct.

Verification of any positive result in screening is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All tentative positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair title and in line with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to cheat: Manipulating a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring more precise results.
• Provides usage history: It can exhibit a pattern of drug use over an extended time frame, not simply recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot indicate recent consumption: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments are typically pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variance: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is actually performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bridgeport, MI

Hair follicle testing offers distinct benefits over traditional urine tests. Its superior detection accuracy makes it a preferred choice in Bridgeport. With a broader detection window, it outperforms the shorter range of urine tests, presenting a reliable history of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bridgeport, MI

Hair follicle testing stands out for its ability to trace drug use over a significantly extended period, up to 90 days. This facilitates a thorough evaluation of an individual's history, giving employers a comprehensive insight into potential substance use habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bridgeport, MI

Hair follicle testing significantly diminishes the potential for sample tampering. This robust testing method delivers trustworthy results, making it exceedingly difficult to manipulate, thereby upholding the integrity of the drug testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bridgeport, MI

With accessible testing sites across the nation and locally in Bridgeport, Accredited Drug Testing provides quick and hassle-free service. This extensive network ensures timely access to essential testing services, enhancing convenience for clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bridgeport, MI

Ordering and undergoing hair follicle testing in Bridgeport is straightforward and respects privacy. The confidentiality of the process reassures individuals, providing ease from initiation to the receipt of results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bridgeport, MI

Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing with quick turnaround times, delivering exceptional value. This ensures businesses of every size in Bridgeport receive reliable testing services without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bridgeport, MI

The precision of hair follicle drug testing in Bridgeport is unmatched, providing fast and accurate results crucial for timely decision-making. High accuracy ensures that even trace levels of substances are detected, offering a reliable method of substance use assessment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bridgeport, MI

Employing hair follicle tests ensures organizations align with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal vulnerabilities. This method boosts safety and compliance, fostering a secure and trustworthy work 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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