Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brockway, MT

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent method for detecting the presence of drugs and alcohol. By embedding biomarkers within the fibers of growing hair, hair offers a prolonged historical record of alcohol and various drugs. When hair is gathered close to the scalp, it allows for a detection window of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 hair strands (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) taken nearest the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. To accommodate EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is not available, a similar amount of body hair can be used. Head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary steps in processing a drug test result in a laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial stage where a sample is integrated into a laboratory system. This stage ensures the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and includes any necessary additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for drug substances. Although Screening offers a cost-effective method to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in legal scenarios. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening are required to undergo secondary confirmation.

For presumptive positives identified in the Screening phase, more hair is collected from the original sample for Extraction. In this method, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than seen in alternative methods (like urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening a challenging process to implement.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that test positive presumptively are cleaned before confirmation, if necessary. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair accreditation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can uncover drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty in deception: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers chronological data: Provides a record of drug use patterns over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Higher cost: Hair drug tests generally incur more expenses compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is a misnomer, as the test assesses the hair strand instead of the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Excels over traditional urine testing in Brockway, MT is simple: superior detection and unmatched reliability. Hair testing not only identifies substances with higher precision but also verifies long-term consumption patterns.

Compared to urine tests, hair testing captures a broader spectrum of substance use over time, which makes it a preferred choice for employers aiming for more accurate employee assessments.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window is one of the most compelling reasons for choosing hair follicle testing in Brockway, MT. Unlike short-term testing methods, this approach offers insights into an individual’s substance use up to 90 days back, proving invaluable for employers.

Such a broad detection range facilitates comprehensive review of an applicant’s or current staff's history, aiding in making informed hiring or retention decisions, beyond the limitations of recent usage.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Brockway, MT, the hair follicle test is renowned for being a tamper-resistant method providing reliable results. The nature of sample collection significantly mitigates the risks associated with typical manipulation faced by other testing methods.

The robust security of the sample ensures outcomes are unquestionable, enhancing the integrity of the testing environment, thereby aiding in legal and compliance reliability.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers nationwide testing centers including convenient local options in Brockway, MT. This extensive accessibility ensures that individuals and businesses receive quick, seamless service without unnecessary logistical issues.

Our strategically placed locations provide easy and efficient access to testing services, maintaining the same high level of quality irrespective of the location.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process remains Simple and Confidential in Brockway, MT, promoting a stress-free experience when ordering and receiving results. Privacy is always paramount, and all procedures uphold the highest standards of confidentiality.

The straightforward approach caters to client convenience, ensuring they navigate the process with ease, from initial steps to result acquisition.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With Affordable Pricing and fast results, we ensure great service in Brockway, MT. Our competitive pricing structure offers excellent value for businesses of all sizes seeking high-quality testing without exorbitant costs.

Timely turnaround is a guarantee, allowing companies to take rapid action, providing both confidence and cost-effectiveness.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision of hair follicle drug testing ensures fast, accurate and dependable results in Brockway, MT. These tests are renowned for their exceptional accuracy in detecting substance use, which gives great confidence to organizations relying on these results.

Hair follicle tests offer an expedient and efficient turnaround, allowing quicker decision-making. The process is designed to quickly provide trustworthy data for assessing an individual’s substance usage history.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Compliance and Peace of Mind in Brockway, MT, hair follicle testing supports employers' efforts towards maintaining drug-free workplaces. It significantly reduces the chances of legal repercussions by adhering to required policies, thereby providing a trusted framework for company safety standards.

By opting for hair tests, companies can bolster workplace security and assure peace of mind for management and stakeholders 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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