Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Arpin, WI

What it is, How it works

Testing hair has emerged as a formidable approach for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. The strands serve as a recorded chronicle of drug activity, capturing biomarkers within the fiber structure of hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, these strands can exhibit evidence of substance use within a period reaching up to three months. Hair is straightforward to gather, moderately tough to tamper with, and conveniently shipped.

A section of hair measuring 1.5 inches in length and comprising approximately 200 strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg, an optimal amount for both screening and validation. For tests involving EtG, additional panels, or those exceeding 10 panels, a quantity of 150mg is preferred. It is recommended to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar quantity of body hair may serve as an alternative. By scalp hair, we refer explicitly to head hair. Body hair encompasses all other types, including facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The process includes four key stages in processing a drug test result at the laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial processing into the laboratory system. This process involves ensuring that the sample was suitably sealed and transported, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and recording any supplemental data not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid evaluation for substances of abuse. Though it offers a cost-effective means to eliminate drug usage in most samples, positive results in this phase require subsequent validation to be eligible for legal proceedings. Samples yielding presumptive positive outcomes in Screening mandate further confirmation.

When a sample appears presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at lesser concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), rendering hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

The Confirmation phase for any positive screening outcomes is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to Confirmation, all samples deemed presumptively positive receive a washing process as required. The complete laboratory process, spanning from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes evaluation under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug assessments can reveal drug use extending to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests that have a briefer detection period.
• Resistance to tampering: It is exceedingly challenging to compromise a hair drug test, enhancing result reliability.
• Yields historical insight: Provides an overview of drug usage patterns over an extended timeframe, rather than solely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect immediate use: It generally requires 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically more costly than alternative drug testing methods.
• Outcome variations: Variables such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is often used, although the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Arpin, WI, hair follicle testing stands out compared to traditional urine tests. It offers superior detection accuracy and reliability, uncovering long-term drug use that urine tests might miss. Employers benefit from a testing method that ensures a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance use history.

Extended Detection Window

With hair follicle testing in Arpin, WI, the extended detection window—reaching up to 90 days—provides a thorough insight into an individual's drug history. This extensive look-back period is crucial for employers aiming to maintain a safe and productive workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Arpin, WI's hair follicle tests stand out due to their tamper-resistant nature, significantly reducing risks of sample adulteration. This ensures that results are reliable and unquestionable, offering confidence in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations nationally and locally within Arpin, WI. This extensive network ensures quick, easy, and hassle-free access to testing services, accommodating the needs of businesses and individuals efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Arpin, WI, is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, it addresses privacy concerns effectively, ensuring a seamless and discreet testing experience for all participants.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Arpin, WI, we offer competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle tests. This combination ensures that companies of all sizes receive excellent value and peace of mind with quick and accurate results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Arpin, WI, ensures fast, accurate, and reliable results. This method excels in pinpointing substance use with a high level of precision, providing accurate findings that are invaluable for employers and legal entities.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Arpin, WI, leveraging hair follicle testing means complying with drug-free workplace policies is simpler. This method reduces legal risks while enhancing overall safety and peace within the workplace. It's an essential tool for compliance.

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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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