Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Breed, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a prolonged history of substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair offers a detection range of up to 3 months for substances like alcohol. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section from around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields a sample weighing 100mg, ideal for both initial screening and subsequent confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or those beyond 10 panels, a specimen weight of 150mg is advisable. It is best to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a similar quantity of body hair can be obtained. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other types (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The key phases in the laboratory workflow for drug test analysis include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is introduced into the lab system. This step ensures proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and handles any extra data input absent from an electronic custody chain.

Screening offers an initial check for substance abuse. Though Screening is a cost-effective approach for rejecting drug presence in most samples, a confirmed positive is needed for legal substantiation. Specimens showing presumptive positives during Screening must undergo further confirmation.

If a sample indicates a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair from the initial sample is extracted for further analysis. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), illustrating the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Before proceeding to confirmation, all presumptive positive specimens are cleaned as needed. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection span: Hair drug testing can trace substance use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests present a narrower detection span.
• High resistance to tampering: Hair drug tests are notoriously difficult to manipulate, enhancing result accuracy.
• Insightful historical data: Hair analysis reveals drug use patterns over time, rather than recent consumption alone.

Limitations:

• Delayed detection: Substances become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair-based drug tests are typically costlier than alternative testing methods.
• Variable results: Factors like hair color and individual growth rates can impact drug metabolite levels in hair samples.

Note: While often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why does hair follicle testing outshine urine testing in Breed, WI? Its superior accuracy and reliability are unmatched. Hair tests delve deeper, providing extensive and precise substance use insights.

Compared to traditional urine testing, hair analysis offers a more rigorous and comprehensive perspective. This ensures employers in Breed, WI get clear, dependable results concerning applicants or employees.

Extended Detection Window

In Breed, WI, hair follicle testing plays a crucial role in highlighting extended detection windows for substance use. It can trace drug use over periods stretching up to 90 days.

This method offers employers a wider lens on potential drug histories, delivering detailed insights that standard tests might overlook, facilitating more informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Breed, WI, sees hair follicle testing as a robust defense against sample tampering. The method's nature inherently guards against adulteration, ensuring sample integrity.

This significance is profound, as it eradicates doubts about sample legitimacy, providing ultrasafe and trustworthy testing outcomes for stakeholders.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Testing's nationwide reach ensures accessible testing locations, even in Breed, WI. This network affords hassle-free access to efficient service centers.

Whether local or across the country, our presence guarantees convenient and immediate testing options, eliminating burdensome logistical concerns for those in need.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Breed, WI, simplicity and confidentiality define our hair follicle testing process. Convenient to order and discreet in execution, it ensures a seamless experience.

Clients are assured of privacy with every step, from test requests to result acquisitions, maintaining discretion and ease for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Breed, WI, benefits from our competitive pricing and brisk test turnaround times, offering enterprises outstanding value for money. Costs are controlled, without compromising on service.

Companies, regardless of size, gain from these economical yet effective testing solutions, reinforcing financial and operational confidence.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Breed, WI, the merits of hair follicle drug testing lie in its speed and precision. These tests quickly deliver highly accurate results for detecting substance use, proving invaluable for entities seeking fast and reliable testing.

Hair follicle testing stands out as a swift method, reducing waiting times and ensuring accuracy. Employers and professionals benefit from this efficient solution, confident in its dependable detection capabilities.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For businesses in Breed, WI, hair follicle testing spells compliance with drug-free mandates, reducing legal repercussions. It bolsters workplace safety by ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.

Employers benefit from minimized risks, maintaining a compliant environment while safeguarding their organizational reputation and peace of mind.

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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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