Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sister Lakes, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures lasting evidence of substance use by embedding biomarkers in its strands as it grows. When collected near the scalp, the hair can reveal up to around a three-month usage history for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair samples is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample consisting of 1.5 inches of about 200 hair strands, roughly the width of a #2 pencil, close to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for both screening and confirmation purposes. For tests involving EtG, additional panels, or more than 10 panels, the suggested quantity is 150mg. We advise weighing the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When we reference head hair, we mean scalp hair only, whereas body hair pertains to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Overview of the Process

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

In Accessioning, a sample is initially processed into the lab’s system. This entails confirming the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any additional data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for substance abuse. While Screening is economical for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be corroborated to hold up in legal settings. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample test positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for further analysis in the Extraction stage. Here, the concentration of drugs is extracted from the hair at significantly lower levels than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug analysis is the most challenging protocol.

Confirming any positive screening results occurs using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to Confirmation, all samples testing positive in the preliminary screen are cleansed as required. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Hair Drug Testing Benefits:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal substance use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests detect within a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: It's notably challenging to deceive a hair drug test, ensuring more precise results.
• Historical pattern disclosure: It can illustrate a drug usage pattern over time, not just recent incidents.

Drawbacks:

• Incapable of detecting immediate use: Drugs usually take 5-7 days to register in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier compared to other methods.
• Result inconsistencies: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth variations can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests," this analysis examines 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 Sister Lakes, MI Hair follicle screenings offer advantages over traditional urine tests, including unmatched detection accuracy. Hair tests detect drug use over an extended period, providing superior reliability.

Employers appreciate these benefits, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of substance use histories, making hair testing the preferred choice over urine in many scenarios.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Sister Lakes, MI Hair follicle tests provide a broad detection timeframe, identifying drug use for up to 90 days. This long window grants employers a detailed view of an individual’s substance history.

With such an extended period, employers can better assess the behavior and reliability of potential or current employees, ensuring a safer workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Sister Lakes, MI Hair follicle exams significantly diminish the chance of sample tampering. The stringent collection process offers irrefutable and trustworthy results.

Unlike other methods, hair testing provides assurance and confidence, making it resistant to deceit, thus upholding the integrity of testing procedures.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Sister Lakes, MI Our extensive network of testing centers ensures accessibility to testing services across the nation. In Sister Lakes, MI, testing is hassle-free, fast, and easily reachable.

Convenience is prioritized, providing both local and national options for testing, simplifying access for businesses and individuals alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Sister Lakes, MI The procedure for ordering, executing, and receiving hair follicle test results is straightforward and private. Concerns about privacy are addressed with a focus on discretion.

Confidentiality is maintained throughout the testing process, ensuring ease for clients while safeguarding personal data accordingly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Sister Lakes, MI Our competitive pricing structures and rapid result delivery provide exceptional value for companies of all scales. Fast turnaround times ensure peace of mind with efficient service.

Offering cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality makes hair follicle testing a sound investment for businesses seeking reliable results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Sister Lakes, MI Hair follicle testing stands out for its precision and swiftness. With hair analysis, the detection of substance use is prompt, delivering high assurance of accurate outcomes.

The reliability of hair tests ensures substance use isn't missed, offering confidence in the results. Both speed and accuracy are the hallmarks of this method in drug detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Sister Lakes, MI Utilizing hair follicle testing helps employers comply with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal liabilities and promoting a safe working environment.

This testing method brings peace of mind, knowing that compliance is met and contributing to a productive and secure workplace setting.

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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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