Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Charlestown, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. A hair strand encapsulates biomarkers within its fibers, offering an extensive history of substance use. Sampling hair near the scalp can reveal drug and alcohol usage within an approximately three-month detection period. It is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

An ideal sample comprises a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's thickness) from the scalp, yielding 100mg. This is optimal for screening and verifying results. For EtG, additional tests, or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler's scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent amount of body hair may be gathered. "Head hair" pertains solely to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing drug test results encompasses four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step, involving the intake of a sample into the lab’s system. This process verifies correct sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data that an electronic chain of custody might not provide.

Screening provides a preliminary check for substances of abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient for eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal validity. Samples flagged as presumptive positives in Screening need additional confirmation.

For samples marked as presumptive positives in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. Here, substances are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening particularly challenging to execute.

Confirmation for positive screening results is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are pre-washed before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 certification standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair testing identifies drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Chronological data: This test provides a timeline of drug use, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Cost: Hair tests are generally pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the procedure analyzes the hair strand—not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing
In Charlestown, WI, hair follicle testing outranks urine testing. The unparalleled accuracy and reliability in identifying drug usage set hair tests apart. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis provides a comprehensive look back, making it nearly impossible to skirt detection. For entities enforcing drug-free environments, hair tests provide superior oversight and assurance over traditional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window
In Charlestown, WI, hair follicle testing shines with its capacity to identify drug use up to 90 days past. Unlike alternatives, this extended timeline offers employers a broader understanding of an individual's substance use history. Whether hiring new staff or conducting routine checks, this method gives a crystal-clear window into past habits, ensuring well-informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method
In Charlestown, WI, hair follicle drug tests stand as highly tamper-resistant. This method significantly diminishes any risk of sample adulteration, delivering results that are both dependable and difficult to dispute. The integrity of hair testing safeguards against deceit, providing peace of mind with definitive, trustworthy conclusions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations
In Charlestown, WI and across the nation, our testing centers offer convenience. With easy and rapid access, individuals and companies can count on a seamless experience, free from delays and complications. The accessibility of our locations guarantees timely testing, making the process straightforward and efficient for everyone involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process
Charlestown, WI champions a straightforward, confidential approach to hair follicle testing. The process of ordering, taking, and receiving results is designed to protect privacy and ensure ease. Concerns about confidentiality are allayed as individuals find the process not only user-friendly but also impervious to breaches, fostering trust every step of the way.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround
Charlestown, WI boasts competitive pricing and quick results from its hair follicle testing. Fast turnaround times combine with cost-effective plans to present exceptional value, particularly for businesses of varied sizes. The efficient service ensures that companies not only get premium insights into substance use but also enjoy financial advantages.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results
Charlestown, WI relies on hair follicle drug tests for precise and swift results. The precision in detecting substance use far exceeds standard methods. With this testing, individuals can expect a high degree of accuracy, ensuring that substance use is not only detected efficiently but also reliably. Hair tests eliminate guessing games, offering employers a true reflection of one's history.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers
Charlestown, WI firms can achieve compliance and tranquility by adopting hair follicle testing. It upholds workplace drug-free standards, mitigates legal risks, and heightens safety. Employers gain confidence, knowing that their drug policies are supported by a robust and reliable testing mechanism that leaves no room for oversight or error.

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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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