Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Circle Pines, MN

What it is, How it works

The assessment of drug and alcohol use through hair testing has gained recognition as an effective technique. Hair strands capture biomarkers within its fibers, offering a long-term profile of substance consumption. When obtained near the scalp, the hair testing window can span approximately three months for detecting alcohol and other drugs. Collecting hair samples is straightforward, presenting a high resistance to tampering, and convenient for shipping.

Obtaining a 1.5-inch segment from roughly 200 strands of hair, equivalent to the diameter of a #2 pencil, proximate to the scalp yields 100 mg, which is optimal for both screening and verification. For tests involving EtG, or extending beyond 10 panels, a 150 mg specimen is advisable. It is suggested to use a jeweler's scale for specimen measurement. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair can be utilized. The term head hair specifically denotes scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for drug test analysis includes four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is introduced into a laboratory's system, which involves ensuring proper sealing and shipping, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry absent from the electronic chain of custody.

Screening conducts an initial evaluation for substances of abuse. Though efficient to mostly rule out drug consumption across samples, legal validation of a positive result requires confirmation. Thus, samples with presumptive positives in Screening need further verification.

When a sample tests presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is utilized from the primary specimen and prepared for Extraction. This phase retrieves drugs from hair at notably lower concentrations than via other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), showcasing the complexity of hair drug screening.

Verification of a positive screening outcome occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Necessary presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation. The complete laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes evaluation in accordance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests are capable of identifying drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests show a shorter detection frame.
• Challenge to manipulate: It is significantly challenging to alter a hair drug test result, enhancing the accuracy of findings.
• Insight into usage pattern: It can reveal a prolonged drug use pattern over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become recognizable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Typically, hair drug tests are more costly compared to other testing approaches.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal growth differences can influence metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the subsurface hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Circle Pines, MN

Hair testing offers superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine methods. It provides a broader substance detection range, making it a preferred choice among employers and professionals focused on substance abuse prevention. The results from hair testing are known to be more reliable, ensuring no recent drug usage goes unnoticed over time.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Circle Pines, MN

With an impressive detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing offers a comprehensive review of substance use history. This extended timeframe is invaluable for employers aiming to understand an employee or candidate's past decisions, providing unparalleled clarity on their approach to substance abuse, which urine tests cannot offer.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Circle Pines, MN

Hair follicle tests drastically cut down sample tampering risks, offering results that organizations can trust. This method’s robust nature makes it nearly impossible to alter or falsify, safeguarding the integrity and truthfulness of the test results, and assuring confidence for employers and professionals relying on accurate data.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Circle Pines, MN

We offer countless nationwide testing centers, ensuring hassle-free access to reliable testing services. Whether local in Circle Pines or spread across the nation, our facilities are prepared to deliver quick, efficient testing experiences for all needs, streamlining the process significantly.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Circle Pines, MN

The process for booking, undergoing, and receiving results for hair follicle tests is straightforward and secure, designed to protect privacy. Our service structure facilitates a discreet, easy-to-use experience, addressing concerns effectively while maintaining user confidentiality throughout each stage.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Circle Pines, MN

Our competitive pricing strategies coupled with swift result delivery offers exceptional value. Catering to businesses of all sizes, we ensure that our services not only remain affordable but also provide a speedy resolution to testing requirements, offering economic efficiency without compromising on accuracy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Circle Pines, MN

Hair follicle drug tests offer precision and speed, recognized for their exceptional accuracy. This detection tool sets a high standard in the substance testing arena, ensuring professionals and employers receive reliable data regarding substance use. Hair testing stands above due to its intricate analysis capabilities, providing thorough results quickly and effectively.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Circle Pines, MN

Utilizing hair follicle testing aligns with workplace drug-free policies, reducing legal concerns and bolstering safety standards. Employers gain peace of mind knowing they're meeting compliance obligations and securing an improved work environment devoid of illicit drug challenges.

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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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