Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Shorewood, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record by incorporating biomarkers into the fibers as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use for up to a three-month period. It is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of approximately 200 hairs (similar to a #2 pencil’s thickness) closest to the scalp equates to 100mg, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG or supplementary tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" covers all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is entered into the lab’s system. This step includes confirming the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any required data entry that's not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for substance abuse. While cost-effective, a positive result requires confirmation for judicial purposes. Any samples showing a presumptive positive in Screening need further confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, more hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or saliva), making hair drug screening one of the toughest methodologies to conduct.

Positive screening results are verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples showing presumptive positives undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and holds accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can uncover drug use for up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter window of urine tests.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is notably challenging, thus increasing accuracy.
• Historical insight: Provides a usage pattern over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically costs more than other testing types.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual growth differences can influence metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Shorewood, MN, hair follicle testing presents a superior alternative to conventional urine tests, offering unparalleled detection capabilities. This method provides substantial advantages, offering greatly extended periods for detecting substances, solidifying its position as the more reliable choice.

Compared to urine tests, hair follicle testing in Shorewood, MN, delivers pronounced accuracy, providing detailed insights into substance use over time. Its robust detection approach outshines that of urine testing, offering superior results for reliable drug monitoring.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing is valued in Shorewood, MN, for its extensive detection window, spanning up to 90 days, allowing employers to gain a thorough understanding of an individual's drug use history. This method provides a detailed view far beyond the reach of more traditional drug tests.

The long-term detection capability of hair follicle tests, capturing substance use over several months, makes them the preferred choice for many employers in Shorewood, MN, seeking a comprehensive evaluation of potential hires or existing employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Shorewood, MN, hair follicle tests are lauded for significantly minimizing the risk of tampering. These tests provide an inherently reliable methodology for catching substance use without the usual concerns of sample contamination or adulteration, thus ensuring pristine results.

Employing hair follicle testing methods in Shorewood, MN offers a robust defence against sample tampering, securing results that are trustworthy and definitive, far exceeding the reliability of other drug testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With a network of nationwide testing centers, including locations in Shorewood, MN, accessing testing services is quick and hassle-free. This accessibility ensures that individuals and employers can easily take advantage of convenient local and national testing services.

Hair follicle testing in Shorewood, MN, is made uncomplicated, thanks to easily reachable centers throughout the area. This ensures that testing services are only a short distance away, providing effortless accessibility for all participants.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing procedure in Shorewood, MN, is designed to be straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy and ease-of-use concerns. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step is streamlined for a comfortable experience.

In Shorewood, MN, navigating the drug testing process with hair follicle testing is smooth and discreet. All phases are tailored to maintain privacy while ensuring a seamless user experience from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

For employers in Shorewood, MN, our hair follicle testing services are not only affordable but also deliver fast results, supporting various company sizes with cost-effective testing options that provide remarkable value.

Our competitive pricing strategies, paired with quick turnaround times for hair follicle testing in Shorewood, MN, offer businesses an attractive balance of affordability and reliability, ensuring peace of mind and efficient service delivery.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug tests conducted in Shorewood, MN, are renowned for their accuracy, making them the preferred choice for reliable substance detection. These tests are designed to deliver rapid and precise results, ensuring that every instance of drug use is captured with utmost reliability.

When it comes to detecting substances efficiently, hair follicle tests stand out for their ability to consistently produce high precision results. In Shorewood, MN, these tests deliver fast and reliable assessments, offering a dependable method to monitor substance use history accurately.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

By implementing hair follicle testing, employers in Shorewood, MN can ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This method significantly reduces potential legal complications and enhances workplace safety, providing peace of mind for business leaders committed to a drug-free environment.

Shorewood, MN employers benefit from hair follicle testing through improved compliance with regulations, safeguarding their workspaces against substance use issues, and ensuring that their risk of legal exposure is minimized.

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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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