Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Deerfield, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a historical record of alcohol and drug usage by embedding biomarkers within the hair fibers. When gathered near the scalp, hair can provide an approximate 3-month window of detection for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of about 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It's best to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent amount of body hair may be acquired. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample into the laboratory's system. This process verifies that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any remaining data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is cost-effective for eliminating drug usage for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples indicated as presumptively positive in Screening need secondary confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at immensely lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can uncover drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is very difficult, thereby making the results more reliable.
• Delivers historical insight: The test can illustrate drug use patterns over time, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to be detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are usually more costly than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Variables like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the hair follicle under the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Deerfield, MI sees significant advantages with hair follicle testing over urine tests. Hair testing outshines urine testing in both detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests may provide immediate results, hair tests cover a broader detection period, capturing a more comprehensive history of substance use, resulting in superior detection accuracy.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Deerfield, MI offers a significant advantage with its extended detection window of up to 90 days. This feature allows employers to gain a well-rounded view of an individual's substance use history, going beyond the shorter windows of traditional testing methods, and ensuring a thorough understanding for new hires.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Deerfield, MI, the reliability of hair follicle tests lies in their resistance to tampering. Unlike other methods, hair tests drastically minimize the risk of adulteration or substitution, providing results that are not only accurate but unquestionable, reinforcing trust in the testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of nationwide testing centers, including locations in Deerfield, MI, offers easy access to hair follicle testing services. Ensuring hassle-free testing for everyone. This widespread presence facilitates quick tests no matter where you are, simplifying the entire process for individuals and companies alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Deerfield, MI, ensures simplicity and confidentiality. Ordering, conducting, and receiving results is straightforward, addressing privacy concerns while maintaining ease. This ensures that individuals can undergo testing with comfort and without the stress of procedure complexity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Deerfield, MI, our hair follicle testing services are both affordable and efficient. With competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, we provide excellent value for businesses of any size, ensuring that workplace testing is both cost-effective and swift, granting peace of mind at an approachable price.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests in Deerfield, MI, provide confidence in their use. These tests offer rapid and precise detection of substances, making them ideal for various testing purposes. The precision of these tests ensures that individuals receive reliable results quickly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Deerfield, MI, utilizing hair follicle testing promotes compliance and provides peace of mind. Upholding drug-free workplace policies is critical, and hair testing ensures adherence, lowers potential legal challenges, and fosters a safer work environment for all employees.

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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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