Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lakefield, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair accumulates a record of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When taken from close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to about 90 days for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, fairly resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section containing roughly 200 hair strands (similar to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. In this context, head hair denotes only scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially entered into a lab’s system. This step includes verifying the sample’s seal and shipping integrity, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary swift assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective method for identifying drug usage in most samples, any positive result requires confirmation to be valid for legal proceedings. Samples that test positive during Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis a challenging methodology to carry out.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as needed. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is carried out under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a briefer detection window.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is very difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides historical data: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over an extended period, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs take approximately 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Despite being commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand and not the scalp's hair follicle

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Lakefield, MN, is superior to urine tests due to its enhanced detection accuracy. With hair testing, the risk of tampering is greatly minimized, something that urine tests cannot assure.

The benefits of hair follicle testing reach beyond just detection; they offer dependability that is unmatched by traditional urine tests, bringing confidence to all stakeholders involved.

Extended Detection Window

In Lakefield, MN, the extended detection window of hair follicle tests is a game-changer, allowing for the observation of drug use up to 90 days prior. This offers a comprehensive review of employees' substance use history.

Employers benefit from the long tracking capability of hair follicle tests, giving a full picture of an individual's drug history, far surpassing the limited scope of urine tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Lakefield, MN, significantly reduces the potential for sample tampering and ensures reliable, definitive outcomes. Tampering with test samples is a common challenge that hair testing effectively addresses.

Lakefield employers can trust in the integrity of hair follicle tests as they reliably mitigate the risk of manipulation, ensuring validity and accuracy in every assessment.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous easy-to-access testing centers throughout Lakefield, MN, and beyond, scheduling and conducting hair follicle tests is both convenient and stress-free.

The network of nationwide locations provides Lakefield residents with hassle-free access to testing services, ensuring that drug testing is not only effective but also easily manageable.

Simple, Confidential Process

For those in Lakefield, MN, the hair follicle testing process remains simple and private, addressing privacy concerns while ensuring ease of use from ordering to receiving results.

This straightforward, confidential process offers Lakefield residents assurance in both the privacy and simplicity of drug testing, fostering a trusted testing environment.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Lakefield, MN businesses benefit from the competitive pricing and fast turnaround times offered by hair follicle testing, ensuring cost-effective solutions for all sizes of companies.

Lakefield's affordable hair follicle testing services deliver exceptional value through competitive rates and quick results, ensuring peace of mind for employers.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test in Lakefield, MN stands out for its combination of speed and accuracy. Its precision in detecting substance use is unmatched, offering reliable results in a timely manner.

Thanks to its advanced methodology, the hair follicle test ensures results that are both fast and thorough, making it an invaluable tool for employers in Lakefield.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Lakefield, MN achieve compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing, aligning with drug-free workplace policies and minimizing legal exposures.

Utilizing hair follicle testing contributes to a safe, compliant workplace environment in Lakefield, MN, by safeguarding against legal complications and promoting a healthy employee base.

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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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