Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Clarklake, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means of detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair strands record a lengthy timeline of substance intake by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When collected close to the scalp, hair can provide a 3-month detection window for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, containing approximately 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the ideal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests above 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair can be collected. By "head hair," we mean scalp hair specifically. "Body hair" refers to all other types, like facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The main stages in laboratory drug test processing include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial processing of a sample into the lab’s system. This involves checking that the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any additional data not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient way to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for court admittance. Presumptive positives in Screening require further confirmation.

If Screening results are presumptively positive, additional hair is taken from the sample for Extraction, where drugs are separated from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods, like urine or oral fluid. This makes hair drug testing the most complex method to conduct.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positives are washed before confirmation as necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug testing detects drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter windows.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is very hard, leading to more accurate results.
• Provides historical data: It offers patterns of drug use over time, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to show in hair.
• Cost: Hair testing typically costs more than other methods.
• Variations in results: Hair color and individual growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair strand, not the follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Clarklake, MI

When comparing hair follicle testing to standard urine tests, the former offers superior detection accuracy and reliability. It outperforms traditional methods by highlighting substance usage over a longer duration, ultimately providing better insights.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Clarklake, MI

The capability of hair follicle testing to reveal drug use over periods reaching 90 days offers employers valuable data on an employee or candidate's history, thus presenting a fuller picture of their substance consumption habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Clarklake, MI

Hair follicle tests significantly minimize the potential for tampering, ensuring the integrity and reliability of results are maintained, providing peace of mind with every assessment conducted.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Clarklake, MI

With an extensive network of testing facilities, accessing necessary services is made effortless and straightforward, providing convenience and quick testing solutions nationwide.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Clarklake, MI

The hair follicle testing process is designed to be user-friendly and discreet, ensuring privacy from order to results, which caters to concerns surrounding confidentiality and ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Clarklake, MI

Offering competitive rates and quick processing times, our hair follicle testing services deliver excellent value while ensuring timely results, suiting companies of varied sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Clarklake, MI

Hair follicle drug testing is renowned for its quick and precise results. The process offers unparalleled accuracy in detecting drug use, ensuring individuals and employers obtain dependable insights within a short time frame.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Clarklake, MI

Employing hair follicle testing helps guarantee adherence to drug-free workplace mandates, reducing the likelihood of legal complications while promoting a safe working 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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