Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Center, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly valued as a robust method for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Hair serves as a long-term record, encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When collected close to the scalp, the hair provides a detection timeframe of up to approximately three months for alcohol and other substances. It's easy to collect, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and straightforward for shipping.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (approx. a #2 pencil's diameter) nearest the scalp equates to 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for screening and confirmation. For tests evaluating EtG, additional panels, or exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair isn't accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be utilized. Head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning involves initially integrating a sample into the laboratory’s system. This process includes verifying the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, attributing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening initiates a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly manner to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for legal acceptance. Samples with presumptive positive results during Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample is deemed presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations significantly lower than those in alternative methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.

Positive results from Screening undergo Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation when necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation per ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair analysis can uncover drug use for as long as 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which offer a briefer detection window.
• Cumbersome to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is particularly tough, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Reveals historical patterns: It shows drug consumption trends over time, rather than merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: It typically takes 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair tests tend to be pricier compared to alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Center, WI, hair follicle testing stands out against traditional urine tests due to its impressive detection accuracy and trustworthiness.
Unlike urine tests, hair tests offer a much wider detection range and offer reliable results, providing a superior alternative for those seeking thorough and accurate drug testing solutions.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Center, WI, detect drug use over an extensive period, sometimes up to 90 days, offering a deeper insight into an individual’s substance history.
Employers benefit from this extensive detection window, gaining a comprehensive understanding of an employee or candidate's drug use history and making informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One major advantage of hair follicle testing in Center, WI, is its resilience to tampering. The method mitigates the risk of sample adulteration, delivering results that are trustworthy and verifiable.
Hair tests offer a secure and tamper-resistant testing option, ensuring the integrity of the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The presence of convenient nationwide and local testing facilities in Center, WI, highlights the accessibility and ease of hair follicle testing.
These locations ensure a seamless and swift testing process, making it hassle-free for individuals and employers to access necessary drug testing services without significant inconvenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Hair follicle testing in Center, WI, is designed to be simple and confidential, addressing concerns about privacy and accessibility.
The process, from ordering and taking the test to receiving results, is straightforward, ensuring privacy and ease of use, thus making the experience stress-free and secure for all users.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and quick result turnaround, hair follicle testing in Center, WI, is both cost-effective and efficient.
These factors provide great value for businesses of varying sizes, enabling them to implement effective drug testing procedures without substantial financial burden while ensuring quick access to results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The efficiency of hair follicle drug testing in Center, WI, lies in its high precision and rapid results. With the ability to accurately detect substances, these tests are preferred for fast and reliable outcomes.
Hair testing procedures ensure swift and accurate substance use detection, making them an excellent choice for individuals and organizations prioritizing quick and precise results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Center, WI, gain peace of mind with hair follicle drug testing, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies.
Hair testing minimizes legal risks and promotes workplace safety by providing reliable and comprehensive insights into employees’ drug use, thereby supporting a secure and compliant working environment.

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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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