Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Brussels, WI

What it is, How it works

Recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption, hair testing offers a comprehensive record by encasing biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal up to roughly a 3-month detection period for substances like alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A collection of 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 strands of hair (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, results in 100mg of hair—ideal for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional tests, or assessments exceeding 10 panels, acquiring 150mg is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for precise measurements. If head hair isn’t available, a similar weight of body hair is acceptable. "Head hair" indicates scalp hair specifically, while "body hair" encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for analyzing a drug test outcome involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes an initial integration into the lab's system. Tasks include verifying the sample's integrity and shipping, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as an initial check for substances. Despite being an economical method to eliminate drug use in the majority of samples, any positive results found in Screening necessitate validation to be legally permissible. Presumed positives from Screening require further corroboration.

For samples presumed positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are removed from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug testing.

Confirmation of Screening positives is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Presumptive positives are washed before confirmation if required. The lab process from Accessioning through Confirmation undergoes evaluation by both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• High resistance to tampering: Hair drug tests are difficult to manipulate, yielding more reliable outcomes.
• Offers longitudinal data: It provides insights into drug use patterns over an extended timeframe, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Delayed detection of recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur higher costs than other drug testing alternatives.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair pigmentation and personal hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Commonly mistaken for "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair shaft rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing holds a significant edge over traditional urine tests in Brussels, WI. With superior detection capabilities, hair tests can reveal substance use spanning up to three months.

• Wide detection window
• Higher accuracy

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle tests in Brussels, WI, is a noteworthy advantage. Capable of detecting substances used up to 90 days prior, these tests provide a comprehensive overview of an individual's drug history.

• 90-day detection period
• Comprehensive view of substance use

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Brussels, WI, offers a tamper-resistant approach to drug screening. The likelihood of sample manipulation is significantly minimized, ensuring trustworthy results.

• Reduced risk of adulteration
• Reliable outcomes

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Brussels, WI, and beyond, the convenience of nationwide testing locations is clear. Our centers across the country facilitate easy access to testing services.

• Fast and convenient access
• Widespread testing centers

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Brussels, WI, is both simple and confidential. Ordering, conducting, and receiving results of a hair follicle test is straightforward, ensuring user privacy.

• Confidential testing process
• Ease of use

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and quick turnaround is a hallmark of our service in Brussels, WI. Companies benefit from competitive pricing without sacrificing quality.

• Competitive rates
• Fast results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Brussels, WI, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests are proficient in quickly identifying drug use with a high degree of precision.

• High accuracy rate
• Quick detection process

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Brussels, WI, achieve compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle drug testing. This method ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal liabilities.

• Ensures policy compliance
• Enhances workplace safety

Drug Testing Near Brussels, WI

Benderville, WI

Sturgeon Bay, WI

Clay Banks, WI

Casco, WI

Tonet, WI

Rio Creek, WI

Ahnapee, WI

Dyckesville, WI

Red River, WI

Euren, WI

Little Sturgeon, WI

Forestville, WI

Maplewood, WI

Gardner, 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