Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Perrinton, MI

What it is, How it works

The utilization of hair testing has emerged as a formidable approach for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended record of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When sampled close to the scalp, hair can provide an approximate 3-month detection tenure for alcohol and other drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch portion, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and confirmation. For tests such as EtG, add-ons, or those surpassing 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for specimen measurement. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair may be utilized. By head hair, we imply scalp hair specifically. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning comprises the initial incorporation of a sample into a laboratory’s workflow. This process entails verifying the sample's sealing and shipping integrity, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts a preliminary assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening offers an economical method for excluding drug consumption in most samples, a positive screen necessitates verification to be valid in a legal context. Screening results that are presumptively positive demand a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. This phase entails extracting drugs from hair at a substantially lower concentration compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for the high complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The entirety of the laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is conducted under the scrutiny of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug screenings can identify drug usage for as long as 90 days, compared to the shorter detection span of urine screenings.
• Resistance to tampering: Tampering with a hair drug test is highly challenging, making the results more reliable.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of drug usage over time, rather than merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug screenings typically incur higher costs than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth disparities can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the follicle within the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing in Perrinton, MI, provides superior detection and reliability. With its extensive detection period, hair testing uncovers drugs long after use, proving beneficial for employers seeking thorough screenings. The enhanced accuracy offers a clear advantage in assessing substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Perrinton, MI, allows insight into an individual’s drug use for up to 90 days. This extended detection period offers employers an all-encompassing perspective on the historical substance use of candidates or employees, greatly aiding in making informed staffing decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Perrinton, MI, hair follicle testing minimizes the risk of sample tampering, ensuring trustworthy results. This method’s resistance to adulteration provides peace of mind, assuring employers of the accuracy and genuineness of the test outcomes. Such reliability is crucial in maintaining integrity in drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers numerous locations, including those in Perrinton, MI, for convenient access to our services. Our extensive network of centers nationwide makes drug testing uncomplicated and hassle-free, accommodating businesses and individuals effectively.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle drug testing process in Perrinton, MI, is straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy concerns. From ordering to results, the procedure is designed for ease and security, ensuring users feel comfortable and that their information remains protected throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Perrinton, MI, benefits from competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle drug tests, making quality service accessible for businesses of varied sizes. These cost-effective solutions provide excellent value, meeting industry standards without compromising quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Perrinton, MI, offer unmatched precision, achieving quick and dependable results. With an efficient process, these tests accurately identify substance use, giving employers confidence in the reliability of findings. Their ability to detect drug use over time supports informed decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Perrinton, MI, hair follicle drug testing aids in adhering to drug-free workplace policies. By mitigating legal liabilities, these tests enhance safety and compliance, ensuring peace of mind. They contribute to the creation of a secure and compliant work environment, focusing on overall 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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