Hair Follicle Drug Testing - De Witt, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has evolved into a formidable instrument for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair archives a lengthy timeline of alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the actively growing strand. When collected near the scalp, it can unveil up to a roughly three-month time frame for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat challenging to alter, and convenient to mail.

A 1.5-inch sample, consisting of around 200 strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, equates to 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and validation. For EtG, additions, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's suggested to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is not available, an equivalent volume of body hair can be collected. When referencing head hair, this is specifically about scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test result processing in labs encompasses four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning starts with introducing a sample into a lab’s system. This step involves ensuring the sample's seal and shipment were correct, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any extra data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody setup.

Screening is a rapid preliminary assessment for drug traces. Although Screening is cost-efficient for negating drug use in most samples, a positive result must be validated to stand in a legal setting. Any samples preliminarily positive during Screening need a secondary validation.

Should a sample preliminarily test positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Preparation. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations lower than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging method.

Confirmation of any positive screener is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All preliminary positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation when required. The full lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation undergoes evaluation under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests detect drug use up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter period.
• Challenge to deceive: Manipulating a hair drug test is quite challenging, thereby enhancing result reliability.
• Tracks historical use: Provides a trend of drug use over time, surpassing the detection of just recent use.

Limitations:

• No detection of recent use: Identifying drug presence in hair typically takes 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other methods.
• Result variability: Hair color differences and individual hair growth rates can influence the concentration of drug metabolites present in the hair.

Note: Though commonly named "hair follicle tests", the procedure actually analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in De Witt, MI, surpasses traditional urine tests by offering greater detection accuracy and reliability. This method lends itself well to observing long-term substance use patterns.

Given their robust detection capabilities, hair tests are favored over urine tests, as they can unearth patterns not visible in short-term screenings, ensuring high reliability for employers and law enforcements.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window in hair follicle testing offers a thorough insight into drug use history, up to 90 days. This provides employers in De Witt, MI, with a clear perspective on substance use patterns.

Employers seeking comprehensive analysis benefit from hair follicle tests' longer detection period, making it an invaluable tool for screening applicants' or employees' drug history effectively.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests significantly minimize tampering risks, providing De Witt, MI, with reliable and unquestionable results. Their collection process hinders sample adulteration efficiently.

Choosing hair follicle testing ensures confidence, as these tests offer resilience against manipulation, ensuring results remain consistent and trustworthy for every assessment.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing boasts conveniently located centers nationwide, including in De Witt, MI, making access to testing services a smooth and hassle-free experience.

In De Witt and beyond, our widespread testing locations ensure quick access, assisting clients in obtaining services without complications, contributing to a stress-free testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our testing process in De Witt, MI, is designed for simplicity and confidentiality, safeguarding privacy concerns and ensuring ease of use from start to finish.

Providing a straightforward and discreet experience, our processes are tailored to preserve client confidentiality, facilitating smooth ordering, testing, and result delivery phases.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times in De Witt, MI, underscore the value we offer, ensuring companies of all sizes receive cost-effective testing.

Swift results paired with affordable pricing set our services apart, empowering businesses with quality and economical solutions for drug testing needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In De Witt, MI, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their efficiency, delivering fast and precise results. Their unmatched accuracy in detecting substances offers a dependable choice over traditional methods.

Choosing hair follicle tests ensures you receive quick outcomes and maintains accuracy at high levels. In comparison to other tests, their results remain consistent, offering peace of mind to decision-makers.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing enables De Witt, MI, employers to comply with drug-free workplace policies. This approach reduces legal challenges and reinforces the importance of safety standards.

Ensuring compliance through hair follicle tests not only protects against legal risks but also enhances overall safety, giving employers peace of mind with reliable 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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