Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Swanville, MN

What it is, How it works

The assessment of hair samples has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands retain biomarkers within their fibers, offering a comprehensive history of substance use. When collected near the scalp, these samples can reveal use patterns over a timeframe reaching three months. The procedure for collecting hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient for shipping.

A sample of 1.5 inches, containing roughly 200 hair strands and weighing about the same as a #2 pencil, yields a 100mg portion ideal for both initial screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional checks, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample weight of 150mg is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. If scalp hair is unattainable, equivalent body hair may be used. Here, "head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for drug test reporting encompasses four crucial steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary steps of integrating a sample into the lab’s system. It checks the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional necessary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary, economical assessment for signs of illicit drug consumption. Though it offers a cost-effective means to eliminate the possibility of drug use in many cases, a positive indication requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive at this stage must undergo a secondary confirmation process.

Should a sample exhibit a positive result in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for the Extraction process. At this stage, drugs are extracted from the hair at significantly lower concentrations than what is possible in alternative methods (such as urine or oral fluid testing), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screenings.

The Confirmation phase for any positive screening result employs techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptively positive samples undergo necessary washing before proceeding to confirmation. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is conducted under the scrutiny of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug usage up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter detection span of urine tests.
• Reduced likelihood of tampering: The accuracy of hair drug tests is heightened by the difficulty in manipulating results.
• Retrospective insight: This method can illustrate a user’s drug consumption habits over time, rather than merely indicating recent use.

Limitations:

• Lack of recent use detection: Drugs take around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair samples.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur greater costs compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth rates can impact the levels of drug metabolites detected.

Note: The procedure commonly termed as "hair follicle test" actually evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Swanville, MN

Hair follicle testing provides a clear edge over urine tests, especially in terms of detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests can identify recent substance use, hair follicle tests cover up to 90 days of use, offering a broader assessment period. This method reduces chances of tampering and yields consistent results, making it a superior choice for employers and professionals seeking precise drug use insights.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Swanville, MN

The primary advantage of hair follicle testing is its extensive detection window, up to 90 days, allowing employers to gain a comprehensive understanding of substance use history. This long-term detection capability surpasses other testing methods, providing detailed insights into an individual's drug usage patterns over three months, thus informing better employment decisions based on accurate historical data.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Swanville, MN

An essential feature of hair follicle testing is its robustness against tampering, minimizing risks of sample adulteration. This method ensures that the results obtained are authentic and indisputable, drawing on the natural properties of hair to secure and maintain sample integrity throughout the entire testing process, thereby guaranteeing reliable outcomes employers can trust.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Swanville, MN

Accredited Drug Testing provides extensive testing services both nationally and in Swanville, MN, offering convenience through multiple accessible locations. Our expansive network ensures quick, effortless access to testing centers, facilitating swift and hassle-free testing processes for all clients, wherever they are situated.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Swanville, MN

Our hair follicle testing service is designed to be straightforward and confidential. The process of ordering, undergoing testing, and receiving results is streamlined for ease of use, with a focus on maintaining user privacy and confidentiality throughout. Our setup ensures concerns regarding data security and simplicity are adeptly addressed.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Swanville, MN

We offer competitively priced hair follicle testing services with fast turnaround times. Our efficient processes ensure that companies of all sizes receive exceptional value, balancing cost-effectiveness with rapid results delivery. This approach supports better fiscal planning and timely substance use assessments.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Swanville, MN

Hair follicle drug testing offers rapid and reliable results, ensuring high accuracy in identifying substance use. This testing method excels in both precision and speed, providing swift confirmation of substance presence and enabling quick decision-making. The hair test stands out for effectively detecting various substances, offering peace of mind with its trustworthy outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Swanville, MN

Utilizing hair follicle testing helps employers ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies, significantly reducing legal liabilities and improving safety standards. This testing method not only aligns with regulatory requirements but also enhances workplace security by accurately identifying substance use, providing companies peace of mind and a safer working 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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