Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hanover, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a long-term record of alcohol and drug use. When hair is collected near the scalp, it can reveal a detection window of up to 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and easy to transport.

Collecting a 1.5-inch sample (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, which includes about 200 strands, provides 100mg, an ideal quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG tests and tests requiring more than 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. The term "head hair" specifically means scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes all other hair types like facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The drug test processing entails four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial sample processing within a lab’s system. It involves confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry that isn’t provided by an electronic custody chain.

Screening includes a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is economically efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated for court acceptance. Any samples that test presumptively positive during Screening require verification.

When a sample tests positive in the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are separated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory workflow, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is challenging, thereby making the results more accurate.
• Historical insight: Provides a usage pattern over time rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs require about 5-7 days to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other test methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Hanover, MN, hair follicle testing holds significant advantages over urine testing. Due to its ability to trace drug use for up to 90 days, it offers a broader window of detection compared to standard urine tests.

Employers and legal systems favor hair testing because it provides a clearer, more comprehensive picture of an individual's drug use history. This accuracy and extended detection period underscore its superiority over traditional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing stands out for its extended detection window, offering insights into an individual's drug use over a lengthy period, typically up to 90 days.

This extended window is a significant advantage for employers who require a thorough assessment of their employees' substance use histories, ensuring better-informed employment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests significantly diminish the risk of sample tampering, providing a robust and reliable testing practice in Hanover, MN.

The inherent test design makes it exceptionally challenging to adulterate, delivering results that you can trust. This reliability is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the drug testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Hanover, MN, accessing drug testing services is straightforward thanks to our convenient nationwide and local testing sites.

The ease of access ensures that scheduling and completing a test is hassle-free, allowing individuals and companies to adhere to necessary protocols swiftly and without inconvenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our hair follicle testing process prioritizes simplicity and confidentiality, ensuring client peace of mind in Hanover, MN.

From ordering a test to receiving results, each step is streamlined for ease of use while safeguarding personal information, assuring clients of privacy and discretion at all stages.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and swift result turnaround, our drug testing services provide exceptional value to companies across Hanover, MN.

Our pricing structure ensures affordability without compromising quality, allowing businesses of all sizes to implement effective drug testing programs within their budget constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests boast a reputation for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results in Hanover, MN. The precision of these tests ensures that even minimal substance use is detected, providing a dependable assessment tool for employers and individuals.

Superior accuracy is one of the main advantages of hair follicle testing, capable of identifying various drugs with unmatched precision.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Choosing hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies, providing peace of mind for employers in Hanover, MN.

This testing method not only protects businesses from potential legal entanglements but also fosters a safer, more secure working environment, reflecting the company's commitment to safety and regulation adherence.

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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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