Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Burnside, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a historical record of substance use by storing biomarkers in the hair's growing fibers. When taken from near the scalp, a hair sample can offer a detection period of roughly up to 3 months for both alcohol and drugs. It is straightforward to collect hair, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of about 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, extra tests, and/or analyses above 10 panels, it's advisable to use 150mg of the sample. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be utilized. 'Head hair' pertains specifically to scalp hair, while 'body hair' encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Drug test result processing in the lab involves four major phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is processed into the lab’s system. This step includes checking that the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary quick assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to dismiss drug use for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be legally permissible. Any samples that test positive during Screening need further confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive during the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are removed from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening one of the most challenging methods to conduct.

Positive results from Screening are verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation when needed. The full lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for as much as 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection timeline.
• Hard to manipulate: Altering a hair drug test is extremely challenging, ensuring greater accuracy of results.
• Records usage history: It can demonstrate a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing and urine testing in Burnside, WI, hair tests provide superior detection accuracy and reliability.

Unlike urine tests, which only detect recent drug use, hair follicle tests identify substance use with better precision and a longer history capture.

Extended Detection Window

In Burnside, WI, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, identifying drug use up to 90 days prior.

This comprehensive detection allows employers to gain a fuller understanding of an individual’s substance use history compared to shorter detection methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Burnside, WI significantly reduce the risk of tampering, delivering reliable and unquestionable results.

The tamper-resistant nature of these tests ensures that sample adulteration is nearly impossible, guaranteeing integrity in testing processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing centers, our services are easily accessible in Burnside, WI, providing hassle-free testing.

Our local and nationwide locations ensure you can access testing services quickly and easily, regardless of your location.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Burnside, WI is simple and confidential, addressing privacy and user-friendliness concerns.

Ordering, undergoing testing, and receiving results are straightforward, ensuring a discreet and hassle-free experience for users.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

We offer affordable pricing and fast turnaround times in Burnside, WI, delivering excellent value for companies of all sizes.

Our competitive rates and prompt results provide businesses with peace of mind and the best return on their investment in drug testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Burnside, WI offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision in detecting illicit substance use far surpasses other methods.

Hair tests can reveal drug use patterns more accurately due to their ability to provide detailed data about substance usage, ensuring high levels of reliability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Burnside, WI benefit from hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies.

This testing method reduces legal risks and enhances workplace safety by providing consistent and peace of mind-inducing results.

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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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