Hair Follicle Drug Testing - New Buffalo, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strand fibers. When sourced near the scalp, hair offers a detection window for alcohol and drugs of up to roughly three months. Hair collection is straightforward, moderately resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A specimen of 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's beneficial to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In the event scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we are specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning represents the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory’s database. This process ensures that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional data not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening signifies an initial rapid evaluation for drugs. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient means to exclude drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be validated for court acceptability. Any samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening demand a secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction process. The Extraction stage involves isolating drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is amongst the most challenging techniques to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo cleansing before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a briefer detection period.
• Resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical usage data: It offers a timeline of drug use over an extended duration, not solely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs are detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is generally pricier compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual growth rate can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The advantages of hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests in New Buffalo, MI, are manifold. Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy, identifying substance use over a prolonged period compared to urine tests. Employers favor these tests due to their reliability and integrity, making them a more dependable option when assessing potential or current employees for substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in New Buffalo, MI, provides an unparalleled detection window of up to 90 days, offering employers a detailed look at an individual's drug use history. This extended detection period is crucial for understanding an employee's or applicant's commitment to maintaining a substance-free lifestyle, aiding informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In New Buffalo, MI, hair follicle tests are celebrated for their resistance to tampering. The method significantly diminishes the potential for sample manipulation, ensuring that the results are both reliable and trustworthy. By minimizing the risk of falsification, hair tests offer a robust solution for organizations prioritizing accuracy in drug screening.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing boasts extensive nationwide and local centers in New Buffalo, MI, providing convenient access to hair follicle testing services. This widespread availability ensures a quick and hassle-free process, accommodating individuals and businesses alike, and maintaining service efficiency and accessibility.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in New Buffalo, MI, is straightforward and confidential. The procedure entails easy ordering, seamless sample collection, and discreet result delivery, alleviating privacy concerns. This approach ensures that all testing participants experience minimal stress, focusing on ease and confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and quick turnaround in New Buffalo, MI, hair follicle drug testing presents a cost-effective option without compromising quality. Companies enjoy swift and reliable results, facilitating budgetary concerns while maintaining the excellence expected from drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In New Buffalo, MI, hair follicle drug tests are recognized for their promptness and reliability, delivering results with precision. These tests are adept at uncovering historical substance use, providing unmatched accuracy in detecting trace substances. The method ensures swift and accurate results, enhancing decision-making processes for testing needs in the area.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in New Buffalo, MI, ensures employers adhere to drug-free workplace policies, offering compliance assurance and reducing legal complications. This method promotes a safe working environment and provides employers with peace of mind, knowing they are aligned with safety standards and regulations.

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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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