Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Watertown, MN

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a long-lasting record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers in the strands of the growing hair. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal up to about a 3-month detection window for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to ship.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into a laboratory's system. This step includes ensuring that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective technique for ruling out drug usage in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to hold up in legal proceedings. Samples that show presumptive positive results in Screening demand a secondary confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methods to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as deemed necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection window.
• Challenge to cheat: It is quite challenging to cheat on a hair drug test, leading to more reliable results.
• Offers historical data: It can reveal a drug use pattern over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and individual variations in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Watertown, MN, surpasses urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. The extended detection window allows for a detailed analysis of substance use history that urine tests often miss due to their shorter detection timeline.

By choosing hair follicle testing, employers and individuals benefit from a method that is not only nearly impossible to cheat but also provides a broader and more precise assessment of substance use compared to the limitations of traditional urine testing.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Watertown, MN, find hair follicle testing invaluable due to its extended detection window, which allows for monitoring drug use for up to 90 days. This prolonged period gives a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance history, aiding in informed decision-making.

The ability to track drug use over a few months offers a more complete picture of an employee's or applicant's habits, ensuring that decisions are based on extensive evidence rather than short-term behavior shifts, which increases workplace safety and integrity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Watertown, MN, hair follicle testing is recognized for its tamper-resistant nature. The collection process is designed to significantly minimize the risk of sample adulteration, ensuring the results are trustworthy and indisputable.

Unlike other methods, where samples can be easily contaminated or swapped, hair follicle tests in Watertown provide an airtight solution against tampering, delivering a reliable profile of the individual's substance use history that employers and legal bodies can depend on without doubt.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Watertown, MN, the convenience of our testing centers nationwide ensures seamless access to hair follicle testing services. The numerous locations make the testing process quick, easy, and hassle-free for all individuals and organizations.

The broad network of testing centers across the country, including local options, ensures that people in Watertown can readily access high-quality drug testing, avoiding potential delays and facilitating the smooth continuation of critical services and employment processes.

Simple, Confidential Process

Watertown, MN, prides itself on a straightforward and confidential hair follicle testing process. From ordering to testing and receiving results, each step is designed with privacy and ease of use in mind, addressing potential concerns individuals might have.

The assurance of confidentiality throughout the testing process builds trust, while the streamlined procedures ensure that clients experience no unnecessary complications, making the overall experience as simple and unobtrusive as possible.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Watertown, MN offers hair follicle testing solutions that boast competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, delivering exceptional value. Our efficient processes ensure that companies of all sizes can benefit from timely results without incurring high costs.

The focus on affordability and speed caters to various organizational needs, guaranteeing that companies can maintain workplace safety and compliance while balancing budgetary constraints, ultimately providing financial relief and certainty.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Watertown, MN, hair follicle drug tests are acclaimed for their swift and precise outcomes. The meticulous nature of the testing process guarantees a high level of accuracy in identifying substance use, providing reliable results faster than traditional methods.

Hair follicle testing stands out for delivering timely results while maintaining dependability. The method is designed to offer an efficient testing experience without compromising the precision of the detected substances, ensuring confidence in the results obtained.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Watertown, MN employers, hair follicle testing offers compliance and peace of mind in enforcing drug-free workplace policies. The method enhances the organization's ability to uphold its safety standards, as the extensive detection range supports maintaining a drug-free environment.

The use of hair follicle tests reduces legal risks associated with substance abuse in the workplace, as it provides credible evidence of drug use over time, assuring employers of regulatory compliance and thus alleviating related concerns.

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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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