Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brushvale, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair screening is increasingly recognized for detecting substance and alcohol usage. By holding biomarkers in the fibers of the growing strand, hair offers a prolonged history of substance exposure. When hair is sampled near the scalp, it can detect substances for a window of up to three months. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

Collecting a 1.5-inch portion of about 200 strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, a perfect sample for evaluations. For EtG, additions, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the hair. If scalp hair cannot be sourced, equivalent body hair may be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair alone. Body hair covers all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of drug test outcomes involves four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the primary intake of a sample into a lab's system. This step confirms the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, issues a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any missing information not captured by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening represents an initial swift evaluation for drug misuse. This cost-effective method can dismiss drug usage in most cases, however, confirmed verification is required for court admissibility. Any presumptive positive results in Screening demand further Confirmation.

For a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial collection for Extraction. At this phase, substances are drawn out from hair in significantly lower concentrations compared to methods like urine or oral fluids, making hair testing a complex task.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques are used to Confirm any positive screens. Presumptive positive specimens are cleansed before confirmation. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair qualification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection range: Hair tests can identify drug usage for as long as 90 days, versus the limited scope of urine tests.
• Hard to sabotage: Tampering with a hair drug test is very challenging, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Historic insight: It helps ascertain a pattern of drug use over periods rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• No recent use detection: Drugs typically become detectable in hair after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair testing is generally costlier than other methodologies.
• Result variability: Elements like hair pigmentation and individual hair growth rates can influence metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis involves the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Brushvale, MN, the advantages of hair follicle tests over traditional urine tests are evident. Unlike urine tests, hair follicle tests deliver superior detection accuracy and reliability.

Employers and legal entities favor hair testing for its extended detection window and dependability, as it is less susceptible to attempts at evasion or falsification.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Brushvale, MN, provides an extended detection window, capturing drug use for up to 90 days. This long duration delivers a broad view of a person's substance use history, beneficial for employers.

Such insights allow employers to better assess candidates or employees, contributing to a safer and more productive workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Brushvale, MN, makes them highly reliable. By significantly limiting the potential for sample adulteration, they produce trustworthy results.

This testing method offers peace of mind with its robust processes, ensuring accuracy and authenticity that are difficult to compromise.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers nationwide, including in Brushvale, MN, accessing services is convenient and straightforward. Our expansive network ensures hassle-free availability of high-quality testing.

Local facilities mean quick connections to testing solutions, providing ease of access and limited wait times for individuals and employers alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Brushvale, MN, is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, privacy and user convenience are prioritized.

Our streamlined process ensures individuals receive accurate results without the hassle, addressing security concerns effectively with minimal effort required.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing services in Brushvale, MN, offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround, making it an excellent option for companies of all sizes.

The combination of competitive costs and swift result delivery provides great value, ensuring businesses can meet their needs without compromising on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Recognized for its precision and speed, hair follicle testing in Brushvale, MN, consistently delivers fast and reliable results. By accurately identifying substance use, this testing method offers significant advantages over alternatives.

Hair follicle tests ensure high accuracy, reflecting an individual's drug use history with precision, providing trustworthy data for employers and professionals needing dependable results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Incorporating hair follicle testing helps employers in Brushvale, MN, maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This proactive approach minimizes legal risks and enhances safety.

Providing peace of mind, this method supports a secure work environment while upholding stringent standards required by various regulatory bodies.

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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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