Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Deerton, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a historical record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers as it grows. When hair is collected near the scalp, it can offer about a three-month detection timeframe for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 hairs (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferred. It's advisable to weigh the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't an option, a similar quantity of body hair could be used. Head hair specifically refers to hair from the scalp, while body hair encompasses all other types, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory processing for a drug test outcome entails four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially processed into the lab's system. This phase ensures proper sealing and shipping, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial rapid check for illicit drugs. This phase is a cost-effective means to eliminate drug use in most samples, yet any positive screen must be verified for court admissibility. Presumptively positive samples require subsequent confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for further Processing. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (i.e., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging method to conduct.

Confirmation for any positive screening results is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo cleansing prior to confirmation if necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can perceive drug use for up to ninety days, while urine tests offer a more limited detection duration.
• Hard to falsify: Hair drug testing is difficult to manipulate, thus improving the accuracy of results.
• Yields historical insights: Hair tests can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, beyond recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It requires about five to seven days for drugs to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing usually incurs higher costs than alternate testing methods.
• Result variability: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly dubbed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing testing methods, hair follicle tests offer a superior detection rate against the traditional urine tests in Deerton, MI. Their capability to showcase usage over a longer period lends credibility and reliability to the results.

Where urine tests may fail, hair testing excels by offering a broader view of substance history, essential for businesses with stringent drug policies.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Deerton, MI boasts a 90-day detection window, crucial for employers seeking a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s drug use history.

This extended detection period supports employers in making informed decisions, providing a clearer picture of substance use beyond the limitations of other tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Deerton, MI, hair follicle tests are highly tamper-resistant. Unlike other testing methods, they significantly decrease the possibility of test interference, ensuring credible outcomes.

This method's resilience against tampering provides employers with trustworthy information, critical for upholding workplace safety.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers the convenience of nationwide locations with centers in Deerton, MI, granting easy access to hair follicle testing services across the country.

Our widespread testing facilities ensure that both local and distant clients enjoy hassle-free and quick access to required testing procedures.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing process in Deerton, MI is both simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, we prioritize ease and privacy at every stage.

This straightforward approach addresses privacy concerns, ensuring a hassle-free and anonymous experience for all participants.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our affordable pricing and quick turnaround times in Deerton, MI deliver unmatched value, catering to organizations of any size seeking reliable hair follicle testing.

Cost-effective solutions combined with rapid results offer peace of mind, enabling businesses to manage their drug testing needs efficiently and economically.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Deerton, MI, hair follicle tests provide fast, accurate results. Their precision in identifying substances is unmatched, making them essential for reliable drug use detection.

Employers benefit from the speed of hair follicle testing, ensuring timely assessments. Their high accuracy rates are crucial for maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Deerton, MI, hair follicle drug testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, alleviating legal risks and promoting a secure working environment.

By adopting this testing method, businesses gain peace of mind, knowing they’re conforming to necessary standards while supporting employee well-being.

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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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