Hair Follicle Drug Testing - New Trier, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a historical record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within its growing strands. When hair is sampled near the scalp, it can detect drug and alcohol use for an approximate duration of three months. Hair is easy to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 hair strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) proximal to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair—this is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. However, for EtG tests, additional tests, or those exceeding ten panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's best to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair is acceptable. When we speak of head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses other hair categories (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory’s system. This process includes verifying the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry omitted by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening incorporates a preliminary rapid check for drug abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-effective approach to exclude drug use in most samples, confirmatory testing is necessary for any positive screen to be valid in a legal setting. Any samples presumed positive in Screening require a subsequent confirmation.

In instances where a sample shows presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen to prepare for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are isolated from hair in notably lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening is the most intricate technique to execute.

Confirmation of any presumptive positive results is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated in compliance with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation standards of ISO / IEC 17025.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection timeframe.
• Challenging to deceive: Hair drug tests are notably challenging to subvert, thus enhancing result precision.
• Historical usage data: Hair tests can depict a pattern of drug use over an extended time, rather than merely recent consumption.

Disadvantages:

• Inability to detect immediate use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs in comparison to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing outperforms urine testing in New Trier, MN, through superior accuracy and longer detection. It offers a reliable drug use history, surpassing traditional methods.

Compared to standard urine tests, hair analysis remains unmatched in detecting drug usage, ensuring employers receive comprehensive substance use insights from applicants or employees.

Extended Detection Window

Offering an extended detection window of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing in New Trier, MN, grants employers profound insights into a subject's drug history, surpassing brief timeframe tests.

This nutrient-rich timeline ensures employers can discern patterns of substance use over a robust period, establishing it as an invaluable tool in evaluating employees or candidates.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in New Trier, MN, stands resilient against tampering, providing irrefutable and trustworthy results devoid of sample manipulation risks.

This inventive method substantially curtails the possibility of adulteration, distinctly positioning it as a reliable testing alternative in professional circles.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key in New Trier, MN, with accessible testing locations nationwide offering swift and seamless hair follicle test services, simplifying the process for users.

Our expansive network ensures that individuals never find themselves far from a reliable testing opportunity, streamlining access and testing efficiency.

Simple, Confidential Process

The straightforward, confidential process for hair follicle testing in New Trier, MN, prioritizes privacy and ease, from ordering to results, addressing potential privacy concerns.

This worry-free approach aids in alleviating apprehensions, ensuring a smooth user experience from start to finish, preserving users’ confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In New Trier, MN, we offer competitive pricing and rapid turnaround for hair follicle testing, aligning with all-sized companies' financial and procedural expectations.

Our economical pricing structure complements quick result delivery, offering value and reassurance to enterprises, facilitating strategic decision-making.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In New Trier, MN, hair follicle tests provide fast, reliable results, pinpointing substance use accurately. This method highlights both precision and efficiency.

Due to its meticulous detection capabilities, hair follicle testing is prized for its ability to deliver detailed results swiftly, positioning it as a preferred choice in drug detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in New Trier, MN, are assured of compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle tests, which uphold workplace drug-free policies, reducing legal and safety concerns.

This method enhances workplace safety while ensuring employers stay abreast of regulatory demands, allowing a harmonious work environment.

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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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