Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Volt, MT

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is renowned as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It captures a long-term record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers. When hair is cut close to the scalp, it offers up to a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and other substances. The collection process is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is convenient.

A 1.5-inch snippet comprising roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's thickness) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, serving as an optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair may suffice. Head hair specifically implies scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for drug test results encompasses four core steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning incorporates the preliminary processing of a specimen into a laboratory's framework. This stage ensures the specimen is sealed and dispatched correctly, a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) is assigned, and any missing data entry from an electronic chain of custody system is completed.

Screening conducts an initial rapid evaluation for substance abuse. Although cost-effective for excluding drug presence in most specimens, a positive Screening necessitates confirmation for legal credibility. Presumptively positive samples require secondary validation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening stands as a complex method.

To confirm any positive Screening outcomes, methods such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are used. Any presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as deemed necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug consumption for a duration of up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• High accuracy due to difficulty in falsification: Cheating a hair drug test is considerably challenging, enhancing result reliability.
• Historical usage data: Offers insights into drug use patterns over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs only become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Variations in hair color and individual hair growth can influence the metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Often mislabeled as "hair follicle tests," these tests actually analyze the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Volt, MT, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine methods with superior detection accuracy. A longer detection period ensures comprehensive assessments.

• Reliable results provide a safety net for employers.
• Testing reliability eliminates the risk of circumvention.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Volt, MT, offers an extended window of drug detection, uncovering substance use up to 90 days prior, giving employers a detailed perspective on a candidate's history.

Such comprehensive detection enables more informed employment decisions due to a clearer understanding of an individual's habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Volt, MT, drastically minimizes sample adulteration risks, offering solid assurance of the validity of test results.

• Unquestionable results supporting rigorous decision-making.
• A trusted method in maintaining integrity in drug screening.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With vast nationwide testing centers, including those in Volt, MT, Accredited Drug Testing facilitates quick, effortless access to drug screening services, enhancing the convenience of testing processes.

• Easy-to-reach locations streamline the testing experience.
• Accessible services ensure testing is a hassle-free experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Accredited Drug Testing in Volt, MT, offers a straightforward, private process for test orders, sample collection, and results delivery, prioritizing confidentiality and user ease.

The seamless approach guarantees security and simplicity, addressing any potential privacy concerns of participants.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and swift result turnover at Accredited Drug Testing in Volt, MT, offer good value for businesses of all sizes, combining affordability with peace of mind.

The balance of cost-effectiveness and rapid service ensures budget-friendly solutions without sacrificing efficacy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and efficiency of hair follicle tests in Volt, MT, set them apart in drug detection. Processed rapidly, these tests offer high accuracy in substance use identification.

Employers seeking reliable results find hair follicle tests indispensable due to their swift and accurate detection capabilities, ensuring timely decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Volt, MT, benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring adherence to workplace drug-free policies, mitigating legal liabilities and enhancing workplace security.

This compliance not only reduces risks but also contributes to an atmosphere of safety and peace of mind within the organization.

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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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