Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Georgetown, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a potent method to detect substance use. Hair stores a prolonged record of alcohol and drug ingestion by locking biomarkers within the hair fiber as it grows. When cut near the scalp, hair can indicate drug or alcohol use over a timeframe of up to three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and simple to send for testing.

A 1.5-inch piece consisting of around 200 hair strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the preferred quantity for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is advisable. It's best to weigh the hair on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. When we refer to head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (like facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The key stages in the lab analysis of a drug test result encompass Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the first step of integrating the sample into a lab's database. This step checks that the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. While Screening offers a cost-effective measure to rule out drugs in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for validity in legal settings. All samples that show a presumptive positive result in Screening require further confirmation.

If a presumptive positive emerges during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this process, drugs are extracted from hair at a far lower concentration than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing a challenging procedure.

To confirm any positive screening outcomes, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques are employed. Any samples that are presumptively positive are washed as necessary before confirmation. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection span: Hair drug exams can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection times.
• Hard to manipulate: It's exceedingly hard to falsify a hair drug test, ensuring the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent drug use: It typically takes 5-7 days for substances to show up in hair analysis.
• Expense: Hair drug exams generally incur higher costs than alternatives.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence the detected levels of drug metabolites.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Georgetown, MN
Hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests due to its superior detection accuracy and dependability. While urine tests serve their purpose, hair testing provides a broader detection time and comprehensive substance history insight.

Employing hair testing offers businesses in Georgetown peace of mind with its unbeatable reliability in capturing past drug use, outperforming urine tests, known for shorter detection windows.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Georgetown, MN
Hair follicle tests are invaluable for their extended detection window, reaching up to 90 days of drug use history. For Georgetown employers, this means a comprehensive glimpse into an individual's substance use over the past three months.

This extensive window affords employers a broader view of applicants, spotlighting patterns that would otherwise remain hidden with shorter review periods of traditional tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Georgetown, MN
Hair follicle tests significantly enhance the integrity of drug screening by minimizing the risk of tampering. In Georgetown, their application results in trustworthy and undisputed results, offering confidence in maintaining workplace safety.

This method stands as a robust barrier against sample adulteration, delivering results that businesses can rely on to inform crucial employment decisions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Georgetown, MN
At Accredited Drug Testing, convenience is key, with a widespread network of testing centers across the nation and in Georgetown, making access to our services both simple and prompt.

Quick and hassle-free access to hair testing helps businesses maintain their operations without unnecessary interruptions, enabling seamless adherence to policy compliance.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Georgetown, MN
Our method of ordering, conducting, and receiving results from hair follicle tests is straightforward and secure. This ensures complete confidentiality, respecting individual privacy during all stages.

In Georgetown, we prioritize users' peace of mind, offering seamless processes that address privacy concerns and facilitate efficient management of drug testing needs.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Georgetown, MN
With Accredited Drug Testing, competitive pricing and swift turnaround times ensure that businesses receive excellent value. This efficiency supports diverse company sizes in maximizing their operational budget.

In Georgetown, fast and budget-friendly testing solutions provide peace of mind by facilitating speedy compliance with company drug policies without straining financial resources.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Georgetown, MN
Hair follicle drug tests deliver precise and prompt outcomes. Their ability to accurately detect substance use provides top-tier reliability. In Georgetown, these tests are known for catching drug traces overlooked by other methods, ensuring quick access to insights regarding substance use patterns.

With unparalleled accuracy, hair testing stands as a reliable choice for detecting drug use. This method ensures that results reach you without delay, helping companies maintain a safe and substance-free environment efficiently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Georgetown, MN
Utilizing hair follicle tests assists employers in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace standards. This method greatly mitigates legal risks and bolsters workplace safety.

For businesses in Georgetown, adopting these tests means upholding rigorous policies while fostering a secure and productive work environment, elevating overall organizational integrity.

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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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