Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Spiritwood Lake, ND

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now regarded as an effective instrument for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended overview of alcohol and various substances by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair. When extracted from near the scalp, hair can present up to a 3-month period of detection for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient for transportation.

A 1.5-inch hair fragment, roughly 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. The specimen should be weighed using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, the same volume of body hair may be obtained. By head hair, we imply only the scalp hair. Body hair indicates all alternate hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The core steps in laboratory analysis of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial setup of a sample within a lab's framework. This includes validating the sample's sealing and transport, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any extra data entry not available from an electronic custody chain system.

Screening serves as an initial superficial test for drug misuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug consumption in most samples, any positive screen must be verified for court admissibility. Samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If the Screening phase yields a presumptive positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. At this point, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (like urine or oral fluids), rendering hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

A positive result from screening is further confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as necessary. The entire lab procedure 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 identify drug usage up to 90 days, in contrast to shorter windows in urine tests.
• Challenging to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical records: It maps a pattern of drug utilization over time, rather than only recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Detection of drugs in hair requires approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors including hair color and individual growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly called “hair follicle tests”, the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Spiritwood Lake, ND, prevails over urine testing with superior reliability. Hair tests detect substance use over a longer period, offering a comprehensive view of an individual's history.

• Better detection accuracy means hair testing is less susceptible to tampering compared to urine tests.
• Employers gain greater confidence in maintaining drug-free environments with hair tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Spiritwood Lake, ND, is renowned for its extended detection window. This method reveals substance use spanning up to 90 days, providing detailed insights into an individual's history.

• Employers benefit from the long-range detection capabilities of hair testing, obtaining a thorough understanding of a candidate's drug use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Spiritwood Lake, ND, ensures integrity in drug testing. This testing method greatly reduces the possibility of sample manipulation.

• With secure collection processes, hair tests uphold reliability, offering unquestionable results that assure all parties involved.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Offering convenient nationwide locations, including Spiritwood Lake, ND, our testing centers ensure easy access to hair follicle testing.

• The wide availability of centers allows for quick and hassle-free testing, accommodating individuals and companies alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

Hair follicle testing in Spiritwood Lake, ND, follows a straightforward and confidential process. Ease of use and privacy concerns are prioritized for all participants.

• Ordering, testing, and obtaining results are streamlined, ensuring simple procedures without compromising confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Spiritwood Lake, ND, affordable pricing paired with fast turnaround makes hair follicle testing a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes.

• Our competitive pricing structure ensures great value, with results delivered promptly, helping reduce potential disruptions in operations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Spiritwood Lake, ND, hair follicle testing provides rapid and precise results, making it an optimal choice for substance detection. The reliability of these tests ensures that results are fast, accurate, and reflect true substance use.

• The high accuracy of hair follicle testing captures long-term drug use efficiently.
• With swift processing times, results are available promptly, facilitating expedited decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Spiritwood Lake, ND, hair follicle testing guarantees compliance with drug-free policies, enhancing workplace safety and legal protection. It ensures adherence to stringent industry standards and regulations.

• Utilizing hair tests provides peace of mind for employers, supporting a healthy and safe work environment.

Drug Testing Near Spiritwood Lake, ND

Sutton, ND

Walum, ND

Ypsilanti, ND

Dazey, ND

Sanborn, ND

Rogers, ND

Eldridge, ND

Kensal, ND

Pingree, ND

Leal, ND

Jamestown, ND

Buchanan, ND

Spiritwood, ND

Courtenay, ND

Wimbledon, ND

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews