Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Deer Creek, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a robust technique for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, hard to modify, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hairs (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the ideal amount for assessment and authentication. For EtG, supplementary tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. We advise using a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen. In cases where scalp hair is absent, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be obtained. When mentioning head hair, this pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other forms of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory's system. This process includes confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipping, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary swift check for illegal substances. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be verified to be acceptable in court. Every sample that tests presumptively positive in Screening requires further confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is removed from the initial specimen and prepped for Extraction. Drug levels are isolated from hair at notably lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most arduous technique to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo a washing process before confirmation if necessary. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is inspected under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and conforms to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests, which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is challenging, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Offers historical information: It can present a timeline of drug use over an extended duration, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It typically takes around 5-7 days for drugs to be noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are usually pricier than other drug testing procedures.
• Result variability: Variables such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites within hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the test itself evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Deer Creek, MN, hair follicle testing surpasses conventional urine tests in several ways. Superior detection capability makes hair testing a preferred choice. Hair tests offer enhanced accuracy and reliability over urine, providing more comprehensive insights into substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Deer Creek, MN, provides an elongated detection window, capturing drug use history up to 90 days prior. A broader overview of an individual's substance history allows employers to make informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle drug tests in Deer Creek, MN, offer a significantly tamper-proof method of testing. This method minimizes risks of adulteration, ensuring trustworthy and conclusive results that are difficult to contest.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our expansive network of testing centers across the nation, including Deer Creek, MN, guarantees convenient and hassle-free access. Testing is quick and accessible, streamlining the drug-testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering and receiving results for hair follicle tests in Deer Creek, MN, is streamlined and confidential. Easy and private steps ensure user-friendly experiences while safeguarding privacy concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid response times, our hair follicle testing services in Deer Creek, MN, stand out. This cost-effective solution delivers exceptional value for companies seeking thorough drug screening results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Deer Creek, MN, offer unmatched precision and rapid results. These tests excel in detecting substance use with remarkable accuracy. Speed and dependability are hallmarks of hair testing, setting it apart as a superior testing method.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Deer Creek, MN, gain compliance assurance by adopting hair follicle testing for workplace drug policies. This method bolsters workplace safety and minimizes legal risks.

Drug Testing Near Deer Creek, MN

Sebeka, MN

Perham, MN

Aldrich, MN

Blue Grass, MN

Clitherall, MN

Parkers Prairie, MN

Bertha, MN

Verndale, MN

Vining, MN

Hewitt, MN

Ottertail, MN

Wrightstown, MN

New York Mills, MN

Henning, MN

Bluffton, MN

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews