Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lake Michigan Beach, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now considered an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair retains biomarkers within the strands, offering an extended record of substance use. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer up to a 3-month window for detecting substances. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A close-to-scalp 1.5-inch sample of approximately 200 strands (similar to a #2 pencil) yields 100mg of hair, ideal for screening and validation. For EtG, special tests, and those over 10 panels, 150mg is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler's scale. If head hair isn't available, the same amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" specifically means scalp hair, while "body hair" includes other types such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

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

Accessioning involves the initial incorporation of a sample into a laboratory’s database. This process checks that the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data inputs not handled by an electronic custody chain.

Screening makes a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. Although cost-efficient for excluding drug use in most cases, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening need further verification.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods confirm any positive screening result. Presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary prior to confirmation. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation along with accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Resistance to cheating: Hair drug tests are quite difficult to manipulate, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: These tests provide a usage pattern over time, not just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs typically become detectable in hair in about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be more costly compared to other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", the focus is on examining the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing
In Lake Michigan Beach, MI, hair follicle testing offers superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. While urine tests detect recent use, hair tests reveal a broader substance history, making them a more reliable method for comprehensive assessments.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window
Offering an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in Lake Michigan Beach, MI, provides employers a detailed view of an individual's substance use history. This gives a clearer picture of an employee or applicant's lifestyle.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method
Hair follicle tests conducted in Lake Michigan Beach, MI, significantly lower the chance of sample tampering. They guarantee reliable results, making them a trusted option for ensuring sample integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations
Accredited Drug Testing provides hassle-free access to testing services with its nationwide centers, including those in Lake Michigan Beach, MI, ensuring quick and easy tests with minimal inconvenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process
In Lake Michigan Beach, MI, our hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, we prioritize user privacy and ease, addressing concerns efficiently.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround
At Accredited Drug Testing in Lake Michigan Beach, MI, we offer competitive pricing and quick turnaround times. Our services provide excellent value and assurance for businesses of every size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results
In Lake Michigan Beach, MI, hair follicle drug testing provides unparalleled precision and speed. With high accuracy, these tests clearly detect substance use, ensuring dependable results. Hair tests are ideal for those requiring quick yet comprehensive substance use detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers
Employers in Lake Michigan Beach, MI, can ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies through hair follicle testing. This method helps mitigate legal risks while bolstering workplace safety, offering peace of mind.

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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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