Hair Follicle Drug Testing - West Concord, MN

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair holds a comprehensive historical record of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the shaft of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to around three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, fairly tough to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the area closest to the scalp, amounts to 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen comprising 150mg is advised. It is suggested to measure the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair not be obtainable, a similar amount of body hair can be gathered. When referencing head hair, it strictly pertains to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other categories of hair (beard, armpit, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal phases in the laboratory process for a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This involves checking that the sample was appropriately sealed and shipped, issuing a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly approach to exclude drug use in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be verified to be valid in legal proceedings. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further validation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction preparation. Here, drugs are withdrawn from hair at a lower concentration level compared to other approaches (such as urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug testing is notably challenging to conduct.

Confirmation of any initial positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptively positive undergo cleansing before confirmation, if necessary. The complete laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized in accordance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 guidelines.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection interval: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which possess a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to circumvent: It is exceedingly challenging to circumvent a hair drug test, thus enhancing the precision of results.
• Provides historical insight: It can showcase a pattern of drug use spanning a time frame, not solely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to identify recent consumption: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other drug testing techniques.
• Outcome variations: Factors such as hair pigmentation and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites within the hair.

Note: Though commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the examination itself evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In West Concord, MN, hair follicle testing overtakes urine tests by miles in terms of reliability and accuracy. While traditional urine tests may fall short in detection, hair tests present a superior approach with their enhanced precision, making them a go-to choice for a foolproof testing solution.

Extended Detection Window

Offering an extended detection window, hair follicle testing in West Concord, MN, reveals drug usage up to 90 days prior. This feature provides employers with a detailed overview of a person's substance history, making it an invaluable resource for informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in West Concord, MN, are known for being tamper-resistant, drastically minimizing the probability of any sample adulteration. This testing method assures results that are both reliable and indisputable, making them a trustworthy choice for critical applications.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With the convenience of nationwide presence, including in West Concord, MN, testing centers ensure easy access to hair follicle drug testing. No matter where you are, swift and hassle-free testing services are always within reach.

Simple, Confidential Process

In West Concord, MN, the hair follicle testing process remains straightforward and confidential. From test ordering to result receipt, the procedure guarantees privacy and remains user-friendly, alleviating privacy concerns and offering peace of mind.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Located in West Concord, MN, our competitive pricing and fast turnaround times set us apart in the realm of hair follicle testing. Businesses of all scales can benefit from our cost-effective solutions without compromising on speed and accuracy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Experience fast and precise hair follicle drug testing in West Concord, MN. The method ensures high accuracy in detecting substances, providing results that are reliable and swift. Gone are the days of lengthy waiting periods or guesswork; hair follicle tests offer the most up-to-date insights into drug usage.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers based in West Concord, MN, adopting hair follicle testing assures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This move decreases legal liabilities and bolsters workplace safety, providing a reassuring environment for both management and employees alike.

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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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