Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Greilickville, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly viewed as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair provides an extended timeline of substance use since it traps biomarkers within the strands as they grow. A sample collected near the scalp can offer a detection window of up to about three months for alcohol and other substances. The collection process is straightforward, tampering with the sample is fairly challenging, and it is convenient to transport.

For optimal screening and confirmation, a 1.5-inch sample consisting of around 200 strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) positioned closest to the scalp generates about 100mg of hair, which is the preferred quantity. For EtG tests, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. We advocate using a jeweler’s scale for measurement. If scalp hair cannot be provided, a similar quantity of body hair can be collected. Here, 'head hair' refers specifically to scalp hair, while 'body hair' encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, underarm).

Process Overview

The drug testing process in a laboratory comprises four crucial steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is concerned with the initial integration of a sample into the lab's system. This step involves confirming the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any additional information that the electronic chain of custody hasn't provided.

Screening serves as a preliminary examination for potential drug abuse. While it is a cost-efficient method for dismissing drug use in most samples, any positive results must be confirmed to hold legal weight. Samples that initially test positive require further confirmation.

If a sample initially tests positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample for the Extraction phase. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations lower than those found in other testing methodologies (such as urine or saliva tests), highlighting the complexity of conducting hair drug tests.

Confirmation of any positive results from Screening is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. All samples testing positive in the preliminary phase are washed before Confirmation as necessary. Every aspect of the laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized to ensure compliance with both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, while urine tests offer a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to tamper with: The results of a hair drug test are more reliable due to the difficulty in cheating the test.
• Historical data provision: It outlines a pattern of drug consumption over time, instead of only recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent use detection: Drugs take around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other types of drug tests.
• Result variation: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth may impact the levels of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although often referred to as "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Greilickville, MI
Hair follicle testing offers superior benefits over traditional urine tests due to its extended detection accuracy and reliability. It provides a longer window for spotting drug use, making it more effective for thorough evaluations.

Unlike urine tests, hair analysis is nearly impossible to falsify due to its precise methodology. Employers and professionals favor it for its consistency and thoroughness in detecting substance use over extended periods.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Greilickville, MI
Hair follicle testing boasts a significant advantage with its extended detection period, reaching up to 90 days. This capability offers employers a broad overview of an individual’s substance use history.

Employers can gain insights into a potential hire's or employee's drug use spanning several months, offering a more comprehensive evaluation than shorter-term tests, thus improving hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Greilickville, MI
The hair follicle test is renowned for its resistance to tampering, significantly lowering the risk of result alteration. This ensured reliability offers peace of mind for those relying on the results for critical decisions.

This method's robust nature makes it exceedingly hard to adulterate, delivering authentic and unquestionable outcomes, instilling confidence in its application for workplace or legal use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Greilickville, MI
Accredited Drug Testing offers the convenience of numerous nationwide facilities, including in Greilickville, making access swift and uncomplicated.

Our extensive location network provides hassle-free, direct access to testing services, reinforcing our commitment to making testing an easy process for everyone involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Greilickville, MI
The process of ordering, conducting, and receiving results from hair follicle tests is straightforward and private, allaying any concerns about confidentiality.

Each step in this testing process maintains confidentiality and simplicity, ensuring that user privacy is upheld while delivering results and maintaining ease of use.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Greilickville, MI
We provide competitive pricing structures combined with quick results, reinforcing the value offered to companies ranging from small businesses to large enterprises.

Our pricing and timely delivery of outcomes make our services an excellent investment, offering financial peace of mind without compromising on quality or speed.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Greilickville, MI
Hair follicle drug tests provide fast and accurate results, ensuring precise detection of substances. This methodology excels in revealing drug consumption, standing out for its speed in delivering trustworthy outcomes.

The reliability of hair follicle testing lies in its capacity to precisely determine substance use, offering high accuracy that surpasses many other testing methods. This makes it a preferred choice for rapid and dependable results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Greilickville, MI
Implementing hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, drastically reducing potential legal issues and promoting a safer environment.

Employers benefit from lessened liability risks and enhanced workplace safety, knowing that the drug testing approach in place is reliable, ensuring all employees comply with set standards.

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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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