Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Basin, MT

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has become a recognized method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended historical record of alcohol and drug use by trapping biomarkers within the structure of the hair as it grows. When clipped near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a roughly three-month window of detection for alcohol and drug use. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to send.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. We suggest measuring the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. When we use the term head hair, it specifically means scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four core steps in the lab processing of a drug testing outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the introductory process of entering a specimen into a laboratory’s system. This step entails confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drugs. Although Screening is a budget-friendly approach to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples with a tentative positive result in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

If a sample indicates a potential positive in the Screening phase, additional hair from the initial specimen is extracted for further preparation in the Extraction stage. In this phase, drugs are separated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis the most challenging technique to execute.

Verification of any positive screening result is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with assumed positive results are washed if necessary before confirmation. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under the guidelines of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly unlikely, making outcomes more reliable.
• Provides usage history: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent consumption: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug-testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the levels of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the procedure analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Basin, MT, hair follicle testing beats urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. The hair test boasts a much longer detection period, up to 90 days, compared to the short span covered by urine tests. This makes it an invaluable tool for employers to assess long-term compliance and maintain a drug-free workplace. Its meticulous process ensures minimal room for error.

Extended Detection Window

The most significant advantage of hair follicle testing in Basin, MT is its extended detection window. Employers and organizations can gain insights into an individual’s substance use history over the past 90 days. This long-term view is crucial in making informed decisions about hiring or continued employment, offering a comprehensive look at drug-use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Basin, MT, the hair follicle testing method is praised for its tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other testing methods where adulteration of samples poses a risk, hair tests minimize this concern. The collection process is stringent and controlled, ensuring the results are reliable and cannot be easily compromised, making it a trustworthy choice for sensitive testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our convenient testing centers, both nationwide and locally in Basin, MT, make accessing hair follicle testing easy and hassle-free. With numerous locations available, individuals and companies can benefit from prompt and straightforward processing, ensuring that testing needs are handled efficiently, with minimal disruption to routine activities.

Simple, Confidential Process

The procedure for hair follicle testing in Basin, MT, is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering a test to the collection process and receiving results, our services ensure privacy and ease of use. This streamlined process tackles any privacy concerns while delivering accurate and reliable results promptly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Basin, MT provides excellent value. Our affordable pricing structures cater to companies of all sizes, ensuring that thorough and reliable testing is accessible. The quick delivery of results guarantees efficiency and peace of mind for all our clients.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle tests provide fast and precise results in Basin, MT. Their accuracy in identifying various substances is unmatched, ensuring that employers and individuals receive reliable and timely information. The process from collection to diagnosis is streamlined to offer quick results without compromising on quality, making these tests incredibly effective for immediate needs.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Basin, MT, achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. By adopting this method, workplaces can reliably enforce drug-free policies, reducing legal liabilities and fostering a safer working environment. The detailed and extensive detection period supports these efforts by offering consistent and verifiable results.

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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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