Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lake St. Croix Beach, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now widely acknowledged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-lasting record of alcohol and drug use, as biomarkers are embedded in the strands of hair as they grow. At the scalp level, hair samples can reveal drug and alcohol usage for up to 3 months. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of around 200 hairs (similar to the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the desired amount for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is preferred. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. Should scalp hair be unavailable, body hair of the same quantity can be collected. Here, head hair refers solely to scalp hair while body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result comprises four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is initially incorporated into the lab’s system. This step confirms the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing information not included in an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as the primary and swift examination for the presence of drugs. Although this method is budget-friendly for ruling out drug intake in most samples, a confirmed positive screen is necessary to be recognized in legal settings. Samples that show a preliminary positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

When a sample registers a presumptive positive in Screening, further hair is obtained from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, the hair undergoes a process to extract drugs at a notably low concentration contrasting other methods (such as urine or saliva), which is why hair drug testing is a challenging methodology to conduct.

Any confirmed positive results from Screening undergo further verification via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with a preliminary positive status are cleansed prior to the necessary confirmation. The entire method from Accessioning through Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter timeframe for detection.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, resulting in more accurate outcomes.
• Tracks historical use: It provides insights into drug consumption patterns over time, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent intake: Drugs become noticeable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more compared to other testing procedures.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence the levels of drug metabolites present in hair.

Note: Despite often being termed as "hair follicle tests", the test focuses on analyzing the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Lake St. Croix Beach, MN, proves more effective than traditional urine tests in several ways. One key advantage is its ability to detect a broader window of substance use, offering greater insight into a person’s drug history. Additionally, hair testing provides superior accuracy and reduces the chance of adulteration, providing reliable results for critical decision-making.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Lake St. Croix Beach, MN, benefit tremendously from the extended detection period hair follicle testing offers. With an ability to identify drug use up to 90 days prior, it gives employers a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance history, aiding in making informed hiring and retention decisions. This broad detection range surpasses the limitations of urine tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method in Lake St. Croix Beach, MN, significantly minimizes tampering risks. Unlike other testing methods, the process of gathering hair samples and its inherent traits lessens the possibility of sample adulteration, providing results that are dependable and nearly impossible to deceive, ensuring fidelity in testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Lake St. Croix Beach, MN, benefits from the convenience of Accredited Drug Testing's extensive network of nationwide centers. Our easily accessible testing facilities ensure a hassle-free experience, allowing quick and straightforward access to vital drug testing services, which cater to clients with various scheduling and geographic needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

At the heart of our services in Lake St. Croix Beach, MN, is a simple, confidential drug testing process. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, the procedure is straightforward, ensuring privacy and ease. Clients can feel secure knowing that their information is treated with utmost confidentiality, addressing any concerns regarding personal data protection.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and efficient service in Lake St. Croix Beach, MN. Our affordable pricing models, coupled with rapid turnaround times, ensure great value for businesses of all sizes. Clients benefit from cost-effective solutions without compromising on the quality or speed of service, reinforcing our commitment to customer satisfaction.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision of hair follicle drug tests in Lake St. Croix Beach, MN, is unmatched. These tests offer fast results crucial for employers needing immediate data. Whether it’s for compliance or peace of mind, these tests provide highly accurate substance use detection, identifying drug use with unparalleled reliability and ensuring swiftness without sacrificing detail.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Lake St. Croix Beach, MN, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks and enhancing safety. The assurance of a thorough and reliable testing method promotes not only compliance but provides peace of mind, knowing that the work environment adheres to high safety standards and regulations.

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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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