Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mills, WY

What it is, How it works

Hair assessment is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol intake. Hair retains a comprehensive record of alcohol and other substances by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands of hair as they develop. When obtained near the scalp, hair offers roughly a 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches and containing roughly 200 strands (approximately similar to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. On the other hand, body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test outcome involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails initially processing a sample into a lab’s system. This consists of verifying the secure sealing and proper shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any additional data requirements not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening comprises a preliminary rapid test for substances of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples indicating a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation step.

When a sample shows a presumptive positive during Screening, further hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction stage. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at considerably lower levels than other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis the most challenging technique to execute.

The Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples that are presumptive positive undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted in alignment with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair endorsement and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug analyses can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Challenging to circumvent: Manipulating a hair drug test is incredibly difficult, ensuring result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It provides a timeline of drug use over an extended period, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair after roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug analyses typically cost more than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair pigmentation and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Excels in Mills, WY: Hair follicle testing offers a more detailed detection period compared to traditional urine tests. Unlike urine tests, hair tests provide a longer and more thorough view of drug use, up to 90 days. This makes them a superior choice for those seeking comprehensive accuracy in substance screening.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection in Mills, WY: Hair follicle tests can identify drug use over up to 90 days, offering an extensive look into an individual's substance history. This ability provides employers with a holistic view of an employee or applicant's drug habits, ensuring better-informed hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistance in Mills, WY: Hair follicle tests greatly reduce the possibility of tampering, offering secure and reliable results. This testing method is incredibly difficult to cheat, ensuring that the results are authentic and trustworthy for anyone seeking accurate substance use assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Access in Mills, WY: With numerous testing centers nationwide, including local ones, accessing drug testing services is simple and hassle-free. The widespread availability ensures that individuals and employers can quickly find a nearby location suited to their needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple Process in Mills, WY: The procedure for hair follicle drug testing is both straightforward and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, the steps are designed to protect privacy and simplify the user experience. This approach alleviates concerns regarding the handling and sensitivity of personal data.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing in Mills, WY: Offering some of the best pricing structures in the industry, our hair follicle tests also provide fast turnaround times. These factors ensure great value for companies, making high-quality drug testing affordable and efficient for all business sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast Results are essential in drug testing, and hair follicle tests in Mills, WY, deliver them efficiently. These tests boast high accuracy in detecting substances, making them a reliable choice. They can quickly determine if an individual has engaged in drug use, providing prompt insight for employers and organizations to make informed decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Peace of Mind for Employers in Mills, WY: Using hair follicle testing strengthens workplace drug policies, ensuring compliance and reducing legal risks. This method provides confidence by maintaining safety standards and a drug-free 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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