Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cassville, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates an extended history of alcohol and drug use by securing biomarkers within the fibers of the progressively growing hair strand. When extracted near the scalp, hair can offer up to roughly a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, fairly resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch strand sample consisting of around 200 strands of hair (approximating the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for assessment and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or evaluations exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advocate weighing the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be taken. When discussing head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning deals with the sample's preliminary processing into the laboratory's system. This encompasses ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening constitutes an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be permissible in court. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening demand a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample be preliminarily positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening result is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the approval for ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which offer a shorter detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: It is extremely challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing the results' accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect immediate use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expenses: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Variables like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can alter the drug metabolites' concentration in hair.

Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the examination targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Cassville, WI, surpasses urine testing by offering superior detection accuracy and extended monitoring capabilities. Hair tests can uncover drug use up to 90 days in the past, providing a more reliable overview.

Unlike urine testing, which can miss long-term use, hair testing is less vulnerable to circumvention, delivering peace of mind to employers through its robustness.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle drug testing in Cassville, WI, offers an extended detection window, capturing substance use history up to 90 days. This long-range insight is invaluable for employers assessing a candidate or employee's substance habits.

With such a broad detection period, employers get a thorough understanding of an individual's history, supporting informed hiring and management decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Cassville, WI, greatly minimizes the chances of sample adulteration. This test is difficult to manipulate, guaranteeing the results are both dependable and accurate.

Employers rely on this testing method to avoid deception, ensuring their workplace policies remain intact and trustworthy.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is a hallmark of our service, with drug testing centers accessible nationwide. Cassville, WI, residents can quickly and easily access testing services close to home.

The broad reach of our centers ensures hassle-free experiences for all clients, streamlining the testing process across various locales.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle drug testing in Cassville, WI, is designed to be straightforward while respecting client confidentiality. Ordering, undergoing, and receiving results are handled discreetly and efficiently.

By safeguarding privacy, we put users at ease, ensuring the testing journey is both secure and user-friendly, without unnecessary complications.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our pricing for hair follicle testing in Cassville, WI, is competitive, matched by rapid result delivery. These services present excellent value for businesses large and small, balancing cost with comprehensive analysis.

Quick turnaround times further enhance service appeal, allowing employers to swiftly and securely integrate testing results into their decision-making processes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and precision of hair follicle drug testing in Cassville, WI, make it a preferred choice for substance detection. These tests offer high accuracy, identifying even trace substance levels with a quick turnaround.

Employers value the reliability of hair testing due to its comprehensive detection capabilities. It ensures that substance misuse doesn't compromise workplace integrity.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle tests in Cassville, WI, ensures employers adhere to drug-free workplace regulations, cutting down on legal risks while boosting safety. This method reinforces employers' commitment to compliance.

Peace of mind comes from knowing that robust testing protocols guard against substance misuse, contributing to a safer working environment for all.

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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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