Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Canton, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a significant method for spotting drug and alcohol use. Hair embodies an extended history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands' fibers. When obtained near the scalp, it offers a detection span of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is suggested. Using a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is not accessible, a comparable quantity of body hair may be collected. When referencing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair signifies all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary phases in the lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the primary incorporation of a sample into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and transported correctly, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any further data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening comprises an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening economically rules out drug consumption in most cases, a positive outcome necessitates confirmation for court acceptability. Presumptively positive samples during Screening demand secondary confirmation.

Should a sample appear positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at a lower concentration than in methods like urine or oral fluid, leading to hair drug screening being exceedingly challenging.

Confirmation of any positive screening result occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as needed. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the certification to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair tests can trace drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection range.
• Challenging to falsify: Hair tests are hard to deceive, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides historical context: They offer usage patterns over time, not solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to determine recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair around 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair testing is typically costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Outcome discrepancies: Elements like hair gradient and personal hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Generally named "hair follicle tests", the analysis processes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Wins in Canton, WI, lies in its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Comparing traditional urine tests, hair testing offers better results by detecting drug use for a longer period. Employers benefit from robust assessments, assisting them in maintaining safe, drug-free environments.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Advantage in Canton uncovers drug use within a much longer timeframe, extending up to 90 days. This capability offers workplaces a comprehensive view of an individual’s substance use history, crucial for hiring and maintaining employee integrity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Security Against Tampering in Canton, WI, lowers risks of sample tampering often associated with other methods. Hair follicle tests deliver unquestionable results, providing trustworthy information to ensure consistent adherence to policies, with less concern about test evasion.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience with Nationwide Reach echoes through our testing services with centers spread across the country, including Canton, WI. This offers quick, effortless access to drug testing facilities, ensuring clients experience hassle-free service from coast to coast.

Simple, Confidential Process

Seamless and Confidential Process in Canton defines the essence of our services. Straightforward steps ensure clients receive results securely and privately. This approach addresses potential concerns about privacy while maximizing user convenience and comfort.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-efficiency and Speed defined in Canton, WI, label our services as a blend of competitive pricing and rapid result delivery. Businesses of all sizes benefit from affordable testing solutions coupled with swift turnaround, furnishing peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Speed and Precision in Canton enable fast, accurate results from hair follicle drug tests, reflecting the effectiveness and swift detection of substance use. These tests provide high reliability for those needing confident assessments in substance detection. With a focus on accuracy, hair testing ensures informed decisions without delay.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Assurance in Canton is pivotal; using hair follicle testing helps employers enforce drug-free policies, avoiding legal complications. Safe workplaces become achievable, enhancing security and promoting a stable environment for business operations.

Drug Testing Near Canton, WI

Luxemburg, 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.

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