Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gemmell, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a robust method to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a prolonged history of alcohol and drug use by locking biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When collected from near the scalp, hair can offer up to a 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to mail.

A 1.5-inch segment of close to 200 hair strands (roughly the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp supplies 100mg of hair, the perfect amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We recommend weighing the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, the same amount of body hair may be obtained. When mentioning head hair, we imply scalp hair solely. Body hair denotes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab's framework. This step includes checking that the sample was sealed and dispatched appropriately, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial swift check for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screen needs to be verified to be admissible in court. Samples showing presumptive positives in Screening require secondary confirmation.

If a sample is tentatively positive in the Screening stage, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen and set for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other methodologies such as urine or oral fluid, making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation if needed. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under 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 tests can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to falsify: It is extremely difficult to cheat on a hair drug test, therefore the results are more reliable.
• Offers historical insight: It can deliver a pattern of drug use over time, unlike just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs require approximately 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally costlier than other drug-testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While often called "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand instead of the hair follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Gemmell, MN

Hair follicle tests surpass traditional urine tests in their ability to detect substances for a much longer duration. This superior detection capability makes hair testing a more reliable choice.

Compared to urine tests, hair analyses are less prone to tampering and provide a comprehensive overview of substance use, ensuring a more accurate assessment of an individual's drug history.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Gemmell, MN

Hair follicle testing offers a substantial advantage with its extended detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This long-term overview provides a profound insight into a person's historical drug use.

Employers can greatly benefit from this detailed detection window, allowing them to better assess an individual's substance use over time, fostering a safer and more informed hiring process.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Gemmell, MN

Hair follicle tests significantly minimize the potential for sample adulteration, making them a dependable method for obtaining drug test results. This level of reliability is crucial for garnering accurate insights.

The formidable nature of hair testing ensures that attempts to alter or manipulate the sample are essentially ineffective, providing trustworthy and unquestionable outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Gemmell, MN

Our extensive network of testing centers nationwide, including in Gemmell, MN, ensures easy and hassle-free access to drug testing services whenever needed.

With numerous locations, we facilitate quick and straightforward testing processes, offering clients the convenience of proximity no matter where they are in the country.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Gemmell, MN

Ordering, taking, and receiving results from hair follicle tests is a straightforward and private process, designed to respect your confidentiality at every step.

We prioritize the ease of use and privacy for all clients, ensuring that the testing procedure causes minimal disruption while protecting personal information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Gemmell, MN

We offer competitive pricing structures and quick turnaround times, providing excellent value for organizations of various sizes in Gemmell, MN.

Affordable pricing combined with our rapid results ensures that companies can maintain efficiency and budget control without compromising on the quality of drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Gemmell, MN

With a hair follicle drug test, expect quick and precise outcomes. These tests are renowned for their high accuracy in detecting drugs, offering a reliable solution for businesses and individuals alike.

The efficiency of hair testing in determining substance use is unparalleled, providing accurate results that you can trust. This swiftness in testing ensures that you can make informed decisions without delay.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Gemmell, MN

Adopting hair follicle tests as part of your drug-testing protocol guarantees adherence to workplace policies, ensuring a drug-free environment and reducing legal risks.

This testing approach enhances workplace safety and provides employers peace of mind, assured that their drug prevention measures are efficient and compliant with relevant guidelines.

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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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