Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hasty, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a long-term record of drugs and alcohol by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When hair is taken close to the scalp, it can reveal up to a 3-month detection range for drugs and alcohol. Hair is easy to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to ship.

A 1.5-inch section of about 200 strands of hair (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp produces 100mg of hair, the perfect amount for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. Mention of head hair strictly pertains to scalp hair. Body hair includes other types such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test result in the lab consists of four principal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning comprises the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab's system. This process entails confirming that the sample was sealed and delivered properly, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any supplementary data not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts a preliminary rapid check for drug use. While Screening is a cost-effective method to eliminate drug use for most samples, a positive result in Screening requires confirmation for court acceptance. All samples that test positive in Screening must be verified through secondary confirmation.

Upon a positive result in the Screening phase, more hair is harvested from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are removed from hair at markedly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is considered the most complex method.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests reveal drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a shorter window.
• Hard to deceive: Hair drug tests are difficult to manipulate, ensuring more reliable results.
• Historical usage patterns: These tests can show a timeline of drug use over a duration, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• No recent use detection: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth rates can influence the drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines 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 Hasty, MN
Hair testing emerges superior when compared to traditional urine testing. With higher detection accuracy and reliability, hair tests offer longer windows for drug detection, ensuring that any substance use does not go unnoticed. This makes it a favored choice among those employing strict testing protocols.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Hasty, MN
Hair follicle testing provides the benefit of a longer detection period, spanning up to 90 days. This allows employers to gain a thorough understanding of an applicant's or employee's drug history, presenting a comprehensive view of their substance use patterns over a significant period.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Hasty, MN
Hair follicle tests provide a high level of sample security, greatly minimizing the chance of tampering. The integrity of the samples ensures reliable results that cannot be easily manipulated, offering unquestioned outcomes for drug testing scenarios.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Hasty, MN
With a network of testing centers nationwide, including in Hasty, MN, accessibility to hair testing services is both quick and convenient. This extensive reach makes obtaining testing services hassle-free, supporting clients wherever they are located.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Hasty, MN
Our testing procedure is straightforward and private. From ordering to obtaining results, the process respects privacy and ease. It ensures that customers can rely on confidentiality throughout the testing phase, alleviating concerns about data security.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Hasty, MN
Our pricing structure is competitive, providing fast turnaround times. We aim to deliver excellent value to companies regardless of size, balancing both cost-effectiveness and efficiency for all testing needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Hasty, MN
Hair follicle drug tests offer superior precision and speed. They boast high accuracy in substance detection, making them a preferred choice in Hasty, MN. This method ensures that results are dependable, providing clear insights into an individual's drug use, cementing them as a cornerstone in modern drug testing.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Hasty, MN
Hair follicle testing aids in maintaining compliance with workplace drug-free protocols. It narrows down legal risks and elevates workplace safety, offering employers the peace of mind that their establishment adheres to essential safety and regulatory standards.

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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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