Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Astico, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a crucial method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within its fibers as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate 3-month detection range for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, a sample weight of 150mg is advised. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, a similar quantity of body hair can be gathered. In the context of head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types, like facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The key stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning comprises the preliminary processing of a sample within a lab's system. This process includes confirming that the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a basic initial assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be substantiated to be legally valid. Samples that are presumed positive during Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample is presumed positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), underscoring why hair drug testing is the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is pursued via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples identified as presumptive positives are cleaned prior to necessary confirmation. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation standards of ISO / IEC 17025.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is notably challenging to falsify a hair drug test, enhancing the reliability of the results.
• Provides longitudinal data: It offers a timeline of drug use over a duration, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to be detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Astico, WI, hair follicle tests significantly outperform traditional urine tests in drug detection. Hair testing's superior accuracy and reliability result from its extended detection window and resistance to tampering. This makes it an indispensable tool for employers who demand strict adherence to drug-free policies, offering a more trustworthy alternative to urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

The hair follicle drug testing in Astico, WI, provides an extensive detection window, capturing substance use over a period of up to 90 days. This method allows employers to gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s substance history, offering insights that short-term detection tests cannot match, thereby informing better hiring and management decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Astico, WI, the hair follicle testing method is known for being highly resistant to tampering. This ensures that the results are reliable and transparent, as the integrity of the sample remains uncompromised. Through this method, uncertainties associated with potential sample adulteration are effectively mitigated, delivering trustworthy outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our expansive network of testing centers ensures hair follicle tests are accessible nationwide, including in Astico, WI. This network facilitates easy and expedient access to necessary testing services, streamlining the process and ensuring that testing is a straightforward, hassle-free experience for both employers and individuals alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle drug testing in Astico, WI, is designed to be simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving test results are streamlined for user convenience, addressing privacy concerns and ensuring ease of use. This simplicity enhances user experience and ensures trust in the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Astico, WI, hair follicle testing is characterized by its affordable pricing and quick turnaround times. This combination offers excellent value for businesses of any size, ensuring they receive accurate and timely testing results without incurring excessive costs, thereby supporting effective workforce management.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Astico, WI, stands out for delivering quick and highly accurate results. Compared to other testing methods, it offers unparalleled precision in identifying substance use, ensuring employers make informed decisions. With its efficiency, hair testing provides both speed and reliability, making it a preferred choice for timely drug screening.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Astico, WI, helps employers maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By ensuring a safe working environment and minimizing legal liabilities, this method contributes positively to company culture. Confidence in screening results promotes peace of mind and reinforces the commitment to workplace safety.

Drug Testing Near Astico, WI

Otsego, WI

Westford, WI

Clyman, WI

Waterloo, WI

Richwood, WI

Beaver, WI

Beaver Dam, WI

Shields, WI

Fountain Prairie, WI

Fall River, WI

Lowell, WI

Calamus, WI

Reeseville, WI

Columbus, WI

Elba, WI

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