Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Clinton, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is regarded as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can capture long-term use patterns by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the developing hair strand. When near the scalp, hair samples can reveal a detection window of up to 90 days for alcohol and other substances. It is straightforward to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch hair segment of approximately 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional testing, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest weighing the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it relates only to scalp hair. Body hair comprises all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary phases in the laboratory handling of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial sample integration into a lab's system. This step includes checking that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not available via an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary swift check for substance abuse. Though Screening is a budget-friendly method to eliminate most samples as drug-free, a positive result in Screening must be confirmed to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples initially testing positive require further confirmation.

When a sample tests positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to conduct.

Confirmation for any positive screen is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed as required before confirmation. Every step from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated for compliance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation under ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can trace drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that provide a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to falsify: Falsifying hair drug tests is very difficult, which ensures accuracy in results.
• Historical usage data: Hair tests offer a usage pattern over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and personal hair growth differences can affect drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though sometimes called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the actual hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Clinton, MI

The benefits of hair testing over traditional urine tests include superior detection accuracy and more reliable outcomes. This method ensures better insight into substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Clinton, MI

Hair follicle tests provide a detection period of up to 90 days, enabling employers to gain a comprehensive look at an individual's substance use history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Clinton, MI

Hair follicle tests reduce the risk of sample tampering, offering reliable and unquestionable outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Clinton, MI

Our extensive network of testing facilities ensures fast and hassle-free service access, whether locally or nationwide.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Clinton, MI

Explaining the easy and private process for ordering, conducting, and receiving results, this approach addresses privacy concerns effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Clinton, MI

Our competitive pricing and fast result delivery promise excellent value and reassurance for businesses of any size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Clinton, MI

Hair follicle testing offers unmatched speed and precision. Delivering high accuracy, it significantly benefits those seeking reliable results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Clinton, MI

Utilizing hair follicle testing helps ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizes legal risks, and enhances the safety of the 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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