Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Agency, MT

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a robust method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair offers a long-term record of alcohol and drug usage by encasing biomarkers within its fibers. When taken near the scalp, hair can supply a detection timeframe of up to three months for drugs and alcohol. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch sample composed of roughly 200 strands of hair (equivalent in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp equates to 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for initial testing and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair might be used. When talking about head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair incorporates all other hair variations (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four key steps in the lab processing of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the starting phase where a sample is entered into the lab’s system. This involves checking that the sample was safely sealed and transported, assigning a Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN) randomly, and completing any further data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening offers an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly approach to eliminate drug presence in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be valid legally. Any samples that test as presumptively positive during Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

Should a sample test as presumptively positive in Screening, more hair is sourced from the original sample and readied for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation for any positive screening outcomes is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer shorter detection periods.
• Challenging to falsify: It is exceedingly challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing result reliability.
• Captures historical usage: It reveals a pattern of drug usage over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Undetectable recent use: Drugs take around 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair strand rather than the sub-scalp hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Surpasses Urine Testing in Agency, MT
Hair testing boasts superior advantages over urine testing, especially in terms of detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests might detect recent usage effectively, hair tests offer a broader timeframe, making them less susceptible to short-term manipulation and more reflective of long-term substance habits.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Agency, MT
Hair follicle testing excels with its extensive drug detection period of up to 90 days. This provides employers with valuable insights into an individual's long-term substance use patterns. By offering a retrospective view of drug habits, it aids in making informed hiring or employment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Agency, MT
Hair follicle tests considerably mitigate the chances of sample tampering. With a collection process that is under strict observation, these tests ensure that results are both credible and unquestionable, reducing the likelihood of contamination and providing peace of mind.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide and Local Testing Centers in Agency, MT
Our widespread testing facilities offer unparalleled convenience, facilitating a seamless testing experience. With easy access to both local and nationwide centers, individuals can benefit from prompt and stress-free testing services covering all regions.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Agency, MT
The process for ordering and undertaking hair follicle tests is both straightforward and confidential. We prioritize privacy, ensuring that all steps—from test scheduling to receiving results—are conducted discreetly, allowing clients to be confident in their decision to utilize our services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Agency, MT
We take pride in offering competitive pricing and brisk turnaround times, catering to businesses of varying sizes. Our cost-effective solutions ensure a high return on investment, coupled with the assurance of timely, accurate drug test results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Testing in Agency, MT
Hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched speed and precision in identifying substance use. They provide highly reliable results, ensuring accuracy with every test conducted. The rapid assessment of hair samples contributes to a quicker turnaround, making it ideal for those requiring prompt verification of drug usage.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Agency, MT
Employers gain assurance and compliance by employing hair follicle testing, aligning with drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal exposure and contributes to a safer work environment, ensuring that all testing procedures meet regulatory demands effectively.

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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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