Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brazeau, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection span of up to around three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to send.

A sample length of 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen amount of 150mg is suggested. It is advised to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, a comparable quantity of body hair may be obtained. The term head hair pertains to scalp hair exclusively. Conversely, body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Summary of Process

The laboratory processing of a drug test result primarily involves four stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning concerns the commencement of processing a sample into the laboratory’s system. This stage encompasses verifying the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning it an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any additional data entry that has not been supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening comprises an initial rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening efficiently eliminates drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in judicial settings. Samples that show presumptive positives in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample exhibit a presumptive positive result during the Screening phase, extra hair is extracted from the original sample and gets prepared for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are extracted from hair in a much lower concentration than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples suspected positive are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which offer a shorter detection timeline.
• Hard to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, making outcomes more reliable.
• Supplies historical insight: It reveals a pattern of drug use over an extended duration, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent consumption: Drugs typically require 5-7 days to become recognizable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Fluctuations in outcomes: Elements like hair color and individual variances in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While commonly denoted as "hair follicle tests", the analysis itself evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In the battle of hair follicle versus urine tests in Brazeau, WI, the former consistently outshines the latter. Using hair follicle testing offers much improved detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests can only detect recent use, hair testing offers a far more comprehensive look at an individual's history. With 90-day detection windows, hair tests provide a broader understanding of substance use, invaluable for employers and professionals in decision-making roles.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing stands out in Brazeau, WI due to its extended detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This feature offers employers a thorough view of an individual's substance use history, allowing for more informed hiring and monitoring processes. Unlike shorter-term urine tests, hair tests provide a broader perspective, reflecting patterns that can inform workplace safety decisions and personal accountability over a significant period.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Brazeau, WI, hair follicle tests are celebrated for their tamper-resistant nature. Unlike some traditional methods, hair tests diminish the risk of sample adulteration to almost nil. This method reduces concerns about test manipulations, providing results that are reliable and credible, ideal for maintaining integrity in drug testing scenarios, especially in professional environments where trust and reliability are paramount.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous convenient nationwide and local testing locations in Brazeau, WI, accessing hair follicle drug tests is seamless and stress-free. Our extensive network ensures that individuals and companies alike can quickly and efficiently reach testing centers, negating the hassles often associated with test location accessibility. Whether local or across state lines, our services are readily available, promoting ease and efficiency.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Brazeau, WI, the hair follicle testing procedure remains a simple, confidential process. Clients can trust in the privacy and simplicity of ordering, administering, and receiving test results, which guarantees ease and discretion. Addressing privacy concerns is paramount, and our structured process reassures all users that their data is handled with the utmost confidentiality and simplicity, emphasizing ease and reassurance.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing with prompt turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Brazeau, WI provides substantial value for businesses of all sizes. Our competitive pricing ensures that comprehensive drug testing does not break the bank, while fast results deliver peace of mind quickly. This blend of affordability and speed solidifies our commitment to providing excellent service and reliability to all corporate environments.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Brazeau, WI is renowned for its swift, precise, and dependable outcomes. One of its major benefits is its high accuracy in identifying substance use, providing unbeatable reliability for results that stakeholders can trust. The process is designed to swiftly pinpoint any drug use, bolstering the validity and speed essential for timely conclusions to aid decision-making processes in various scenarios.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing offers peace of mind and ensures compliance with drug policies for employers in Brazeau, WI. It effectively reduces legal risks and strengthens workplace safety by maintaining drug-free standards. By using hair testing, employers can confidently uphold policies that support a safe work environment, staying in line with regulation standards and fostering a culture of security and responsibility among their teams.

Drug Testing Near Brazeau, WI

Spruce, WI

Suring, WI

Breed, WI

Maple Valley, WI

Coleman, WI

Pound, WI

Oconto, 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