Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Quietus, MT

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair maintains a long-term record of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer up to a 3-month detection period for substances like alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is easy, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels above 10, 150mg of hair is suggested. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test result consists of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the initial incorporation of a sample into the lab system. This process ensures that the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly way to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be acceptable in a court of law. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening need additional confirmation.

In cases where a sample shows a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than alternative methodologies (like urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive result from Screening is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation when required. The complete lab process, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and aligned with the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a briefer detection span.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, enhancing the reliability of results.
• Offers historical insights: Provides a usage pattern over time, rather than assessing only recent use.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent usage: Drugs require around 5-7 days to become discernible in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests generally involve higher expenses than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentrations can vary due to factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences.

Note: While often called "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Quietus, MT, hair follicle tests provide a distinct advantage over urine tests. Their reliability in detecting drug use progress beyond traditional urine tests.

Employers often opt for hair tests because of their dependable results, despite urine tests being more common. Hair tests ensure superior detection accuracy and greater dependability.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of up to 90 days with hair follicle testing in Quietus, MT offers a wider view into an individual's substance use history.

This extended period helps employers make thorough evaluations of potential hires or current employees, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their drug use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Quietus, MT are designed to deter adulteration, providing more valid results.

With its tamper-resistant nature, this testing method ensures the integrity of the samples, instilling trust and dependability in the results presented.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The broad network of testing locations, including those in Quietus, MT, facilitates efficient and accessible testing experiences.

This nationwide presence makes obtaining necessary tests convenient, minimizing any complications often associated with drug testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Quietus, MT, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, focusing on ease and privacy from initial order to final results.

This user-friendly approach ensures that personal data remains secure, addressing common concerns about confidentiality and simplicity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and swift results, hair follicle testing in Quietus, MT delivers great value for companies of varying sizes.

The affordability, paired with rapid turnaround times, enhances peace of mind and supports business goals efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Quietus, MT offers rapid and precise results, essential for accurate substance detection. The technique surpasses traditional methods with its high reliability and quick processing times.

This method significantly enhances result accuracy, allowing prompt, secure conclusions about substance usage. The swift analysis maintains confidence in the outcomes, vital for employers and testers alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilization of hair follicle testing in Quietus, MT aids employers in adhering to drug-free workplace policies, ensuring compliance and safety.

This testing helps mitigate legal risks while promoting a more secure working environment, bringing peace of mind to all involved parties.

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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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