Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bay City, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair screening is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a prolonged record of substance use due to the capture of biomarkers in the hair's fibers as it grows. When sampled near the scalp, it provides up to a 3-month period for detecting alcohol and other substances. The collection process is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and convenient for shipping.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 hair strands, roughly matching the girth of a #2 pencil, will yield 100mg of hair, which is ideal for analysis. For EtG, additional tests, or when exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of specimen is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale is recommended for precise measurement. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent amount of body hair can be assembled. When we mention head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary phases in processing a drug test result in the lab: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into the lab's system. This step confirms proper sealing and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and includes any additional data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for substance abuse. Although it is an economical approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, any positive findings require confirmation to be legally defensible, necessitating further validation for all presumptive positives.

In cases of presumptive positivity at the Screening phase, additional hair from the initial collection is readied for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are withdrawn from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting hair testing as among the most intricate techniques to execute.

Confirming positive results involves GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Each presumptive positive specimen undergoes washing before confirmation if needed. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to oversight by both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter window offered by urine tests.
• Resistance to tampering: The complexity of altering results makes hair testing highly reliable.
• Retrospective data: It provides insights into long-term substance patterns, beyond mere recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Detection in hair takes around 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair testing generally incurs higher costs compared to other methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual growth rates can influence metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Frequently misnamed "hair follicle tests", the procedure analyzes the hair shaft and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Bay City, WI, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine testing by offering an extended detection window and reliability. Hair tests have superior accuracy as they trace drug use up to 90 days back, glaringly outpacing urine tests, which detect only recent use. For zero-tolerance policies, this extended observation period is invaluable, giving a fuller picture of an individual's substance use.

Extended Detection Window

The standout feature of hair follicle drug testing in Bay City, WI is its extensive detection window. Unlike urine tests, which capture drug usage over a few days, hair tests reveal an individual's drug history up to 90 days old. This capability offers employers a comprehensive overview of employee or applicant substance use, essential for maintaining a drug-free workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle drug tests in Bay City, WI ensures the integrity of the testing process. By minimizing the potential for sample adulteration, hair testing delivers results that are dependable and difficult to dispute. This reliability forms the backbone of its effectiveness, reassuring employers and testing authorities of its unyielding validity and credibility.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Bay City, WI, the convenience of comprehensive and nationwide testing locations simplifies the drug testing process. Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy accessibility to services, guaranteeing that all testing needs are met swiftly and efficiently, no matter your location. This network supports a seamless experience for individuals and businesses alike, removing geographical barriers to effective testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

Accredited Drug Testing streamlines the testing process in Bay City, WI. The procedure is simple and confidential, from ordering a test to receiving results. This transparency reassures clients that their privacy is paramount. The easy-to-use services address common apprehensions about drug testing, ensuring a respectful and secure handling of sensitive information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Bay City, WI, Accredited Drug Testing takes pride in offering competitive pricing and fast turnaround times. Companies of any scale benefit from these cost-effective services paired with rapid results, providing great value for efficient drug testing solutions. The affordability factors directly contribute to peace of mind, making it accessible without compromising quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The efficiency of hair follicle drug tests in Bay City, WI is unparalleled. With their precision, these tests offer fast and accurate detection of substance use, ensuring reliable results. This method's speed greatly benefits individuals and organizations seeking trustworthy data on drug use. The precision in each test guarantees a high level of accuracy, making it the preferred choice for many.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Bay City, WI gain peace of mind and compliance assurance through hair follicle testing. This method supports upholding drug-free workplace policies, substantially mitigating legal risks and fostering a safer environment for all staff. Compliance with these policies not only protects the business but also enhances overall workplace well-being through reliable substance monitoring.

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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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