Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Delmar, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair strands capture biomarkers in their fibers, offering a comprehensive longer-term view of alcohol and other drug consumption. When cut near the scalp, hair reveals up to a 3-month drug and alcohol use history. The collection process for hair samples is straightforward, they are difficult to tamper with, and they are easily mailed.

A segment measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (roughly the same size as a #2 pencil), clipped closest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for screening and verification. For EtG, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a comparable volume of body hair may be used. Here, head hair refers solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (like facial or axillary hair, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in processing a drug test result in a lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of introducing a sample into a lab's system. This process involves ensuring the sample’s seal and correct shipping, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and compiling any supplementary data not prefilled by an e-chain of custody system.

Screening executes a preliminary quick assessment for illicit drugs. While Screening is economically efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive outcome necessitates official confirmation to hold up in court. Any samples yielding a presumptively positive result in Screening mandate auxiliary confirmation.

Should a sample return a presumptive positive in the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. Here, substances are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluids), rendering hair screening one of the most challenging testing methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive result found during screening is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. All samples with presumption-positive results undergo washing before confirmation, as required. The overall lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair distinction and adheres to ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can trace up to 90 days of drug use, surpassing the shorter detection span of urine tests.
• Resistance to tampering: Cheating on a hair drug test is challenging, contributing to more reliable outcomes.
• Historical insight: It can illustrate a trend of drug usage across a timeline, not just immediate past use.

Limitations:

• No immediate use detection: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is often costlier compared to other drug testing procedures.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentrations in hair can fluctuate due to hair color and individual hair growth differences.

Note: Often labeled as "hair follicle tests," the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Delmar, WI, hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over urine tests, making it the preferred choice for many.

• Superior Detection: It offers a broader detection window, often reaching up to 90 days.
• Accuracy: Provides more consistent results over time compared to urine tests.
• Reliability: Difficult to tamper with, reducing the chances of false negatives.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Delmar, WI, offers an extended detection window, making it invaluable for employers.

• Extended Period: It can track substance use up to 90 days prior.
• Comprehensive View: Provides a detailed insight into an individual's longer-term substance habits.
• Employers' Tool: An excellent resource to evaluate employee or candidate history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Delmar, WI, hair follicle tests stand out as a tamper-resistant testing method.

• Reduced Risk: The testing method minimizes the likelihood of sample adulteration.
• Reliable Results: Results are considered reliable and leave little room for manipulation.
• Unquestionable Integrity: Employers can trust the integrity of test outcomes due to this method.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient testing locations, including Delmar, WI.

• Nationwide Centers: Easy access to testing services nationwide.
• Local Convenience: Testing is easily accessible for residents of Delmar.
• Hassle-free Access: Ensures a stress-free experience for all testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The drug testing process in Delmar, WI, is simple and confidential.

• Ease of Use: The procedures for ordering and taking tests are straightforward.
• Confidentiality: Protecting your privacy is a priority.
• Efficient Process: Results are quick, maintaining discretion and confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Delmar, WI, boasts affordable pricing and rapid turnover for drug testing.

• Competitive Rates: Financially viable solutions for businesses regardless of size.
• Fast Turnaround: Swift delivery of results ensures timely decisions.
• Value Assurance: Offers excellent service value for money invested.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug tests available in Delmar, WI, are celebrated for their fast, accurate, and reliable results. Key benefits include:

• Precision: These tests can precisely detect trace amounts of substances in the system.
• Speed: Quick processing ensures results are delivered rapidly, helping with timely decisions.
• Accuracy: Favored for their high accuracy, they confirm substance use effectively.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Delmar, WI, find assurance with hair follicle testing, aiding compliance and peace of mind.

• Workplace Drug Policies: Ensures adherence to strict drug-free workplace rules.
• Legal Peace: Minimizes potential legal complications related to workplace substance abuse.
• Safety: Promotes a safer working environment by ensuring compliance.

Drug Testing Near Delmar, WI

Crescent, WI

Thorp, WI

Taft, WI

Worden, WI

Cadott, WI

Colburn, WI

Edson, WI

Stanley, WI

Boyd, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews