Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Browns Lake, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The unique ability of hair to store long-term data on alcohol and other substance use is due to its capacity to capture biomarkers in the fibers as hair grows. When collected near the scalp, hair provides a detection window for alcohol and other drugs of roughly 3 months. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easily transportable.

A sample of 1.5 inches, approximately 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp, gives 100mg of hair, which is the ideal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. In cases where scalp hair is non-existent, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test result in the laboratory entailed four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning serves as the preliminary step of introducing a sample into a laboratory’s framework. It involves ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped appropriately, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any extra data not recorded by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid drug check. Although Screening is cost-effective for ruling out drug use in the majority of samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be valid for legal purposes. Any screens yielding a presumptive positive necessitate secondary confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. This stage involves removing drugs from the hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), contributing to hair drug screening being the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of positive screening results is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as needed. The entire lab procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can disclose drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Resistant to tampering: The results of a hair drug test are notably accurate due to the challenges involved in tampering with them.
• Provides usage history: It can reveal a trend of drug use over an extended timeline, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent use detection: Detecting drugs in hair requires approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than other testing methods.
• Result variability: The concentration of drug metabolites in hair can be influenced by factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is on the hair strand itself and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Browns Lake, WI, hair follicle tests surpass traditional urine tests in effectiveness. Hair testing boasts superior detection accuracy, unveiling substance use history over months, unlike the limited detection window of urine tests.

Employers benefit greatly from hair testing as it reveals consistent substance use rather than isolated incidents, offering a more credible and comprehensive assessment. This reliability over urine testing proves invaluable in maintaining workplace integrity.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Browns Lake, WI offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This provides a comprehensive view of an individual's substance history, unlike other testing methods with shorter windows.

Employers gain a broader understanding of an applicant's or employee's substance use patterns, proving critical in evaluating long-term behavior rather than isolated occurrences, thereby enhancing decision-making processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Browns Lake, WI, the risk of test tampering is significantly reduced with hair follicle tests. Unlike other methods, altering or substituting samples is nearly impossible, assuring employers and individuals of the test's integrity.

This method provides unquestionable evidence of substance use, removing doubts about the authenticity of test results and ensuring reliable outcomes that reinforce employer confidence in maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations nationwide, including Browns Lake, WI. This ensures quick and hassle-free access to drug testing services, accommodating the needs of employers and individuals easily.

With extensive local and national coverage, testing becomes a straightforward process, eliminating the stress often associated with organizing and accessing drug testing facilities.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Browns Lake, WI, our simple and confidential hair testing process promotes ease of use. From ordering to receiving results, the entire procedure is streamlined, addressing privacy concerns effectively.

Individuals and employers find this process user-friendly, with clear instructions and fast, secure access to test outcomes, thereby enhancing confidence in confidentiality and convenience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Browns Lake, WI, boasts competitive pricing for hair follicle tests, delivering excellent value for all business sizes. Our quick turnaround times ensure results are processed without delay, supporting timely decision-making.

Employers benefit from cost-effective solutions that maintain high standards of testing accuracy and reliability, making it easier to uphold workplace safety with affordable and efficient service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug testing in Browns Lake, WI, make it an excellent choice for detecting substance use. Each test is conducted with the highest accuracy, ensuring fast, reliable results that employers and individuals can trust.

These tests provide clear evidence of substance use, ensuring that employers receive accurate information swiftly. With quick processing times, hair follicle tests present a dependable option for timely substance use identification.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Browns Lake, WI ensures adherence to workplace drug policies. With its robust results, this method reduces legal risks associated with non-compliance, aiding employers in sustaining a safe work environment.

Employers benefit from peace of mind, knowing they are using a method that reinforces zero-tolerance drug use policies, thereby enhancing overall safety and maintaining a compliant, drug-free workplace.

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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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