Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Parker School, MT

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is regarded as an effective method for spotting alcohol and drug consumption. As hair captures biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows, it can illustrate a long-term record of substance use. When collected near the scalp, hair can reveal up to an approximately 3-month diagnostic period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to falsify, and easy to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, ideal for screening and validation. For EtG add-ons or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We advise measuring the sample on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four central phases in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a sample into a lab system. This includes confirming the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not available from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary rapid test for drug misuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug use in the majority of samples, any positive screen must be corroborated for legal acceptance. Samples that test presumptive positive during Screening necessitate a further confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug testing is the most complex technique to carry out.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests detect drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection duration.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Provides usage history: It can reveal a history of drug intake over a span, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become traceable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair pigmentation and personal hair growth variances can impact the level of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the assessment evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Parker School, MT, hair follicle testing is superior to urine testing, offering unparalleled detection accuracy and dependability. Unlike traditional methods, hair testing provides an extensive detection window, ensuring reliable insights into long-term substance usage.

Durability and accuracy make hair follicle tests a preferred choice over urine tests, capturing substance history more comprehensively and reducing potential testing discrepancies.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Parker School, MT, reaches up to 90 days, offering a thorough view of an individual's substance use history. This long-term assessment aids employers in making more informed hiring or monitoring decisions.

Employers gain insights into patterns of use, allowing for a complete evaluation of an applicant or current employee’s behavior over a substantial period.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Parker School, MT, offer a tamper-resistant method, reducing risks of sample adulteration and ensuring authentic results. This robust procedure offers peace of mind when reliability is paramount.

The integrity of the testing process is safeguarded, delivering results that stakeholders can trust, effectively addressing concerns about test manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

At Parker School, MT, our convenient nationwide testing centers ensure straightforward, fast, and hassle-free access to drug testing services, guaranteeing a smooth experience for clients.

Local and extended networks of testing sites offer unparalleled accessibility, making it simple to undergo required tests without undue complications.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Parker School, MT, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease every step of the way. The streamlined order, test, and result procedures uphold client confidentiality.

Clients are assured a discreet experience, addressing concerns of security and privacy while ensuring a straightforward and user-friendly protocol.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in Parker School, MT, our hair follicle testing provides excellent value and assurance to companies of all sizes, upholding fiscal responsibility.

The benefit of fast and affordable solutions makes our testing services attractive to employers seeking efficient and economical testing options for their workforce.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Parker School, MT, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its speed and precision, offering rapid and trustworthy results. By detecting substance use with remarkable accuracy, it ensures clarity and reliability in test outcomes.

Employers can confidently rely on hair testing for quick and accurate insights into substance use patterns of staff, eliminating doubt and ensuring compliance with workplace regulations.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Parker School, MT, find compliance and reassurance with hair follicle testing, aligning with drug-free workplace policies, thus lowering legal risks and boosting workplace safety.

Using this method ensures adherence to regulations, promoting a secure and hazard-free work environment, and reinforcing commitment to employee well-being.

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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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