Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Adams, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective means for detecting alcohol and drug use. Hair archives a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When acquired near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and simple to ship.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's width) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, making it the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests over 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, a similar quantity of body hair may be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we are indicating only scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning encompasses the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory’s system. It includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening comprises an initial rapid examination for drug abuse. While Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug usage for most samples, a positive screen needs confirmation to be court-admissible. Samples that are presumptive positives in Screening require additional confirmation.

If a sample is a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from the hair at a significantly lower concentration than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most complex method to conduct.

Confirmation for any positive screening result is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to falsify: It's exceedingly difficult to cheat a hair drug test, resulting in more precise outcomes.
• Delivers historical information: It can outline a drug use pattern over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand and not the follicle below the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Adams, WI, hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over traditional urine tests. These tests boast superior detection accuracy and reliability, presenting a clear picture of an individual's drug usage. Unlike urine tests, which can be easily manipulated, hair testing provides an observable method that ensures sample integrity, resulting in more reliable outcomes and helping maintain high standards of workplace safety.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Adams, WI presents an extended detection window, capturing drug usage history for up to 90 days. This long-term view is beneficial for employers assessing an applicant's or employee’s substance usage over time. It offers a comprehensive profile of a person's drug history, far surpassing the window offered by urine tests and helping employers make informed decisions about their workforce.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Adams, WI offer a highly tamper-resistant method. By minimizing the risk of sample adulteration, these tests provide reliable and trustworthy results that withstand scrutiny. This authenticity ensures the integrity of the testing process, offering employers peace of mind knowing that the data reflects true substance use, making it a preferred choice for maintaining substance-free environments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing centers, including in Adams, WI, accessing hair follicle testing is straightforward and hassle-free. Our extensive network ensures that individuals and companies can quickly locate a facility nearby. This widespread availability makes it easier than ever to engage with our testing services, providing a seamless experience from scheduling to receiving results.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Adams, WI, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering the test to undergoing analysis and obtaining results, each step prioritizes privacy and ease of use. Individuals can rest assured that their information is secure, making the entire procedure stress-free, while companies appreciate the straightforward nature of the service provided.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing in Adams, WI. Businesses of all sizes appreciate the excellent value, as our services deliver timely results without compromising on quality or expense. This affordability ensures that organizations can maintain their focus on safety while managing costs effectively, benefiting their bottom line and operational resilience.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Adams, WI stand out for their precision and speed. These tests provide quick, accurate results, making them highly effective in detecting substance use. Their reliability ensures employers receive trustworthy data, crucial for maintaining a substance-free workplace. The method's efficiency in identifying drug use is unparalleled, giving businesses confidence in their hiring and monitoring practices.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Adams, WI gain compliance and peace of mind by utilizing hair follicle testing. These tests ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies, significantly lowering legal risks. The clarity and dependability of hair testing uphold safety standards, enhancing the work environment and supporting employer efforts to maintain compliance with regulations, benefitting both employees and the organization as a whole.

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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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