Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Butternut, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. This technique monitors alcohol and drug history by preserving biomarkers in the hair fibers as they grow. When sampled near the scalp, hair can offer about a 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, an optimal sample size for testing and validation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is suggested. If scalp hair cannot be collected, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. By head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in the lab processing of drug test outcomes include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the introduction of a sample into the lab’s system. This stage ensures the sample was sealed and delivered correctly, assigns a Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN) randomly, and fills in any missing data not captured by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening performs an initial speedy analysis for drugs of abuse. Screening economically eliminates drug presence in most samples, yet a positive result must be verified for legal acceptability. Samples flagged in Screening as potentially positive need further confirmation.

When a sample is flagged in the Screening process, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a lower concentration versus other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which accounts for the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of a positive result is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all potentially positive samples are washed as necessary. The entire lab sequence, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair label and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests identify drug usage for as long as 90 days, as opposed to urine tests with shorter detection intervals.
• Hard to falsify: Hair drug tests are challenging to falsify, ensuring highly reliable results.
• Historical insights: Provides an overview of drug usage over time, not just recent patterns.

Limitations:

• Ineffective for recent drug use: Drugs only become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically costlier than alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Differences in hair color and growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Analysis Supercedes Urine Testing in Butternut, WI

Hair evaluations provide advantages over traditional urine analyses, showcasing superior detection and reliability. The extensive tracing capability of hair tests offers unmatched accuracy, extending drug usage detection up to three months. This makes hair assessments invaluable for employers aiming for consistent zero-tolerance environments, surpassing the narrower scope of standard urine evaluations.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Span in Butternut, WI

The notable benefit of hair evaluations is their long detection period, capturing drug use from up to 90 days prior. Such an extended assessment period offers employers a thorough insight into an applicant or staff's history of consumption, embodying a comprehensive tool for enforcing workplace substance policies and ensuring personnel consistency.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure, Tamper-Resistant Evaluation Method in Butternut, WI

Hair follicle testing significantly mitigates the risk of sample alteration. The methodology demands collection under observation, rendering potential tampering or substitution practically impossible. This assurance of sample integrity produces reliable, undeniable results, fostering trust in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Conveniently Located Testing Facilities in Butternut, WI

With numerous testing centers nationwide, including in Butternut, WI, accessing our services is simple and hassle-free. Our widespread locations enable quick testing access, eliminating logistical challenges and allowing organizations to conduct timely evaluations without detour or delay, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.

Simple, Confidential Process

Seamless, Confidential Testing Process in Butternut, WI

Our method is straightforward and discreet, from order to result. Ensuring privacy and comfort, the procedure caters to every client's need for security and ease, offering a streamlined experience from the initial test request through to the final reporting, crucially upholding clients' confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective Options and Rapid Results in Butternut, WI

Offering competitive pricing and swift processing times, our evaluations deliver great value for organizations, large or small. With quick turnaround and cost-efficient solutions, businesses achieve peace of mind knowing their testing decisions and resulting implications uphold economic and operational balances.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Reliable Outcomes in Butternut, WI

Hair follicle analyses offer precise and swift results, boasting superior accuracy in indicating substance consumption. This method excels in identifying drug traces, offering companies confidence in decision-making processes. Whether pre-employment tests or routine employee checks, timely and clear assessments pose significant advantages, facilitating informed choices and upholding company standards.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Assurance for Employers in Butternut, WI

Using hair follicle testing promotes compliance with drug-free workplace norms, reducing legal exposure and enhancing worksite safety. By integrating these assessments, companies can maintain rigorous organizational standards, ensuring a safe environment while upholding accountability and government regulations.

Drug Testing Near Butternut, WI

Manitowish, WI

Mellen, WI

Mercer, WI

Clam Lake, WI

Elk, WI

Knight, WI

Draper, WI

Morse, WI

Jacobs, WI

Chippewa, WI

Fifield, WI

Glidden, WI

Lake, WI

Park Falls, WI

Price, 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