Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Midwest, WY

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the hair strands as they grow, hair can provide a longer-term record of alcohol and drug use. If collected near the scalp, hair can reveal substance use within an approximate 3-month period. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to send.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the area closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair—perfect for screening and confirmation. For comprehensive testing, including EtG add-ons or more than 10 panels, 150mg is preferable. It’s best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equal quantity of body hair can be used. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four key stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is about the initial handling of a sample into a lab's infrastructure. This includes checking that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and entering any remaining data not included by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid test for the misuse of drugs. While Screening serves as a cost-effective measure to dismiss drug use in most samples, any screen-returning positive results must be verified to be valid in a legal context. Any samples indicating presumptive positivity in Screening demand further confirmation.

If a sample shows presumptive positivity during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample for preparation in the Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from the hair, reflecting a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), accounting for why hair drug screening is the most complex method to conduct.

Confirmation of a positive screen is accomplished via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating presumptive positivity undergo washing before confirmation as required. The whole laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation complies with both 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 reveal drug uptake for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a briefer detection period.
• Challenge to alter: It is exceedingly challenging to tamper with a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It can illustrate a pattern of drug consumption over time, instead of merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapacity to detect recent consumption: It takes about 5-7 days before drugs become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Outcome variations: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often described as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Midwest, WY, hair follicle testing offers clear advantages over traditional urine testing. This method ensures superior detection accuracy and reliability, overcoming the limitations of shorter detection ranges inherent in urine tests. By analyzing hair strands, employers gain a more comprehensive insight into substance use, equipping them with critical information that urine tests may not provide.

Extended Detection Window

For employers in Midwest, WY, hair follicle testing presents a valuable depiction of an individual's substance history over an extensive timeframe. The ability to detect drug use up to 90 days prior greatly surpasses the limitations of other testing methods, such as urine tests. This extended detection window allows for a thorough examination of long-term substance usage patterns, offering unparalleled insights.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Midwest, WY, minimize the possibility of sample tampering, thus offering credible and irrefutable results. Unlike urine tests, which can be susceptible to adulteration, hair analysis strengthens the integrity of the testing process. By eliminating the risk of manipulation, this method ensures the actual substance use is accurately reported and validated.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides unmatched convenience through its widespread testing centers in Midwest, WY, and nationwide. These facilities guarantee easy and expedient access to hair follicle testing services, reducing the logistical burdens often associated with testing. Testing can be conducted seamlessly, ensuring it fits effortlessly into any schedule or location preference.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Midwest, WY, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be straightforward and confidential. Clients can easily order tests, with sample collection and results delivered discreetly, safeguarding privacy throughout the entire process. This approach ensures that individuals and employers can manage testing needs without unnecessary complications or privacy concerns.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle drug testing in Midwest, WY. Our efficient processes mean that businesses can rely on cost-effective solutions without compromising service quality. Fast and accurate results guarantee peace of mind for companies of all sizes, delivering excellent value in substance testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Midwest, WY, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its precision and quick results. By assessing hair samples, this testing method accurately detects a variety of substances, offering reliable data for any substance-related inquiries. The advanced technology ensures that results are delivered swiftly, eliminating prolonged waiting times associated with other testing methods, thus providing a dependable assessment tool.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Midwest, WY, can achieve compliance and tranquility by adopting hair follicle testing to enforce drug-free policies effectively. This method not only ensures adherence to safety regulations but also reduces legal liabilities linked with non-compliance. Utilizing this robust testing strategy enhances the overall safety and order of the work environment.

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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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