Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Crystal Falls, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a formidable resource for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer up to about a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. It's easy to collect hair, somewhat hard to tamper with it, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion comprised of around 200 strands of hair (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) taken closest to the scalp will yield 100mg, the perfect specimen amount for evaluation and confirmation. For EtG, additional screenings, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample size of 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in processing a drug test result in the laboratory include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample within a lab's system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any supplemental data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be permissible in court. Any samples that are presumptively positive in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. This phase involves retrieving drugs from hair at considerably lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation for any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. Both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards oversee and review the entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for as long as 90 days, outlasting the detection span of urine tests.
• Challenging to manipulate: The accuracy of hair drug tests is enhanced by the difficulty of tampering with results.
• Offers historical insight: It tracks patterns of drug use over time, not limiting findings to recent activity.

Limitations:

• Lacks immediate detection: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be costlier than other testing approaches.
• Variable outcomes: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While commonly referred to as “hair follicle tests,” the test evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Crystal Falls, MI, the advantages of hair follicle testing over urine tests are evident. Hair tests provide enhanced detection reliability and greater accuracy, making them superior in identifying substance use. The prolonged detection window allows for a more comprehensive assessment, offering employers and other entities a more reliable drug testing method compared to traditional urinary evaluation.

Extended Detection Window

Crystal Falls, MI benefits from hair follicle testing, known for its extended detection window of up to 90 days. This method offers employers an in-depth understanding of an individual's substance use background, making it the optimal choice for a thorough evaluation of both applicants and current employees alike.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Crystal Falls, MI, the integrity of hair follicle testing is unmatched, significantly minimizing the risk of sample tampering. The test's design and procedure deliver undeniable results, ensuring that employers and other institutions receive trustworthy data devoid of potential adulteration.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience in testing is paramount in Crystal Falls, MI, with widespread availability through our national network of centers. This accessibility guarantees a seamless, hassle-free testing process, making it straightforward for individuals and employers to avail themselves of reliable drug testing services locally and nationwide.

Simple, Confidential Process

Crystal Falls, MI residents enjoy a simple and confidential process for hair follicle testing. Ordering, conducting, and receiving test results are streamlined for ease of use while ensuring privacy, addressing any concerns about discretion and straightforwardness in the drug testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Crystal Falls, MI, our hair follicle testing is distinguished by competitive pricing and rapid turnaround, offering tremendous value. Businesses, regardless of size, find our services cost-effective and reassuring, knowing they receive high-quality testing results swiftly without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Crystal Falls, MI, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its swiftness and precision, ensuring highly accurate identification of substance use. Leveraging state-of-the-art technology, these tests can rapidly produce reliable results, reducing waiting times while maintaining exceptional accuracy in detecting even trace amounts of drugs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Crystal Falls, MI find reassurance in hair follicle testing as it ensures alignment with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal liabilities. This testing method contributes to a safer work environment, bolstering compliance and providing peace of mind with its dependable results.

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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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