Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Belgium, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is widely recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When hair is cut close to the scalp, it can reveal up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-proof, and easy for transport.

A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) taken nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not present, a proportional amount of body hair might be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes any other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The process for lab handling of a drug test result consists of four principal phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and carries out data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial quick assessment to check for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug usage in the majority of samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be valid for legal proceedings. Any samples identified as presumptively positive during Screening need further confirmation.

If a sample indicates a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the original sample and set for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are removed from hair at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is a challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any presumptive positive result is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo a wash before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is monitored under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests provide a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty to tamper: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely hard, thus making the results more reliable.
• Offers historical data: It can show a pattern of drug use over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests are generally pricier compared to other drug testing methodologies.
• Results variability: Variables such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While often called "hair follicle tests", the procedure evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Belgium, WI, many opt for hair follicle testing due to its superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. This method provides unmatched reliability for detecting substances efficiently.

While urine tests may reveal recent use, hair tests offer a comprehensive assessment, identifying substance patterns over a more extended time period, providing a more thorough evaluation.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Belgium, WI is a game-changer, capturing drug use patterns over the past 90 days. This advantage allows employers to gain a broader understanding of an individual's substance history.

Employers favor this method as it uncovers long-term habits, unlike short-term options. Hair testing thus provides a crucial insight into an applicant's or employee's fitness for duty.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Belgium, WI are highly tamper-resistant, significantly minimizing the chances of sample manipulation. This ensures that the results are reliable and unquestionable.

This testing method reduces deceitful practices, making it a trusted choice for institutions seeking to maintain integrity and dependability in drug testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of nationwide testing centers including those in Belgium, WI means effortless and hassle-free access to services. Our expansive network ensures quick and easy access to needed testing options.

This availability supports effective drug testing with minimal disruption, providing a seamless experience for anyone requiring such services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Belgium, WI is simple and confidential. Orders, collections, and result receptions are designed to be straightforward, addressing any privacy concerns effectively.

Ensuring ease of use and privacy, our process provides assurance that results are handled with the utmost confidentiality and discretion, enhancing trust in our services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing in Belgium, WI boasts affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times, delivering excellent value and confidence to businesses, regardless of their size.

Competitive pricing structures paired with speedy results ensure that companies can maintain their standards without compromising on quality, providing peace of mind at a reasonable cost.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Belgium, WI is known for its fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. It excels in identifying substances with high precision, making it a preferred option for those seeking trustworthy results.

With cutting-edge technology, these tests ensure swift and exact identification, highlighting the advantage of hair testing over other methods in providing dependable insights into substance use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Belgium, WI benefit from hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies and reducing legal liabilities, all while enhancing workplace safety.

Using this reliable test method, companies can achieve peace of mind, ensuring they adhere to policy standards while promoting a secure and productive work environment.

Drug Testing Near Belgium, WI

Gibbsville, WI

Hingham, WI

Adell, WI

Saukville, WI

Sherman, WI

Oostburg, WI

Port Washington, WI

Waubeka, WI

Random Lake, WI

Fredonia, WI

Cedar Grove, 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.

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