Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Casco, WI

What it is, How it works

Recognized as an influential technique, hair testing is utilized for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers, hair presents a prolonged history of alcohol and drug usage. Collected near the scalp, it can reveal up to a nearly 90-day detection period for these substances. Acquiring hair samples is straightforward, somewhat hard to tamper with, and convenient for transportation.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil’s width) taken closest to the scalp will result in 100mg of hair, which is optimal for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it’s suggested to acquire 150mg of the sample. It is advisable to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. In cases where scalp hair isn’t present, a comparable amount of body hair is suitable. Scalp hair exclusively refers to head hair, while body hair covers all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four pivotal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning signifies the introductory stage of entering a sample into the laboratory framework. This includes validating the sample's seal and shipment, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry not furnished by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial, swift examination for drug use. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach to dismiss drug use for most samples, to hold in court, a positive screen necessitates verification. Any samples deemed presumptively positive in Screening require additional confirmation.

Should a sample yield a presumptively positive outcome during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are abstracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is deemed the most intricate technique to execute.

Confirmation of any initial positive screening outcome is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptive positive sample undergoes washing before confirmation, as necessary. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the full laboratory process is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and holds an accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can sense drug use for up to 90 days, surpassing urine tests that have a more limited detection period.
• Makes cheating difficult: Circumventing a hair drug test is notably challenging, thus enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical information: It can depict a timeline of drug usage over an interval, not just immediate use.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: A timespan of approximately 5-7 days is essential for drugs to be identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests commonly entail higher costs compared to alternate drug test methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration levels within the hair.

Note: Commonly known as "hair follicle tests," this test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Wins Over Urine Testing in Casco, WI

• Unlike urine tests, hair follicle analyses offer longer drug detection windows.
• Employers favor hair testing for its increased precision and harder-to-tamper nature.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Casco, WI

• Hair tests provide a longer look back at drug use, up to 90 days.
• This comprehensive insight benefits employers in evaluating drug habits effectively.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing in Casco, WI

• Hair tests are less prone to adulteration compared to urine tests.
• Employers gain confidence with results that are harder to manipulate.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Centers in Casco, WI

• Easily accessible nationwide centers ensure seamless testing experiences.
• Local and convenient locations minimize downtime for employees.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Testing in Casco, WI

• The process for hair testing is straightforward and discreet.
• Ensures privacy while delivering accurate and timely results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective and Swift Results in Casco, WI

• Competitive pricing structures cater to businesses of varied scales efficiently.
• Quick turnaround on results provides value and assurance to employers.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Hair Testing in Casco, WI

• Speed and precision define hair drug tests, making them trustworthy.
• Accurate detection of substances aids in quicker decision-making for employers.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Employer Peace of Mind in Casco, WI

• Hair testing aids in adhering to strict drug-free workplace mandates.
• Deterring substance use reduces legal liabilities and enhances safety.

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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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