Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dovre, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. The hair retains long-term biomarkers within its growing strands. By obtaining hair samples near the scalp, detection of alcohol and drugs is possible for up to around three months. Collection is straightforward, with minimal risk of tampering, and convenient for shipment.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hairs (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) collected close to the scalp should weigh 100mg, the ideal amount for testing and verification. For EtG, additional measures, or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for measurement. If scalp hair is not available, the same quantity of body hair is an alternative. "Head hair" refers solely to the scalp, while "body hair" encompasses all other types of hair (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for drug testing consists of four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning marks the sample’s entry into a laboratory system. It verifies proper sealing and delivery, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any extra data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts a preliminary evaluation for drug presence. Although cost-effective for most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for legal acceptance. Presumptive positives necessitate further confirmation.

Upon a presumptive positive result in Screening, additional hair from the original sample undergoes preparation for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are extracted from hair in much lower concentrations than in methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair drug testing exceptionally challenging.

Positive screening confirmations are executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives are washed as required before confirmation. The laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Detects drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter duration.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating on hair drug tests is extremely difficult, ensuring more accurate outcomes.
• Offers historical insights: Provides a comprehensive drug usage pattern rather than merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Tends to be more costly compared to other methods of drug testing.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration.

Note: The test is often termed "hair follicle tests," but it analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Dovre, WI, offers marked advantages over urine tests. With superior detection accuracy over a more extended period, it minimizes the chances of false negatives or manipulation. This extended detection window allows employers to better evaluate potential or current employees, ensuring a workforce that aligns with company policies.

Extended Detection Window

Hair testing in Dovre, WI, provides an extensive drug use detection period of up to 90 days. This long window allows employers and agencies to observe a detailed substance history, offering deeper insights into an individual's long-term habits. This makes it an indispensable tool for those seeking a comprehensive profile of substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the primary benefits of hair follicle testing in Dovre, WI, is its resistance to tampering. The nature of the test ensures that the sample remains unaltered, leading to credible and undeniable results. This reliability is a crucial advantage for entities that prioritize integrity in their testing processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited provides convenient testing centers nationwide, including within Dovre, WI. This expansive network ensures easy access to needed services, streamlining the process for individuals and employers alike, and guaranteeing a hassle-free experience while maintaining high service standards.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our testing process in Dovre, WI, is straightforward and private. From ordering the test to receiving results, confidentiality is paramount. This simple, yet effective process addresses and alleviates any concerns regarding privacy, enhancing user comfort and trust in our services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and quick result turnaround make our hair follicle testing in Dovre, WI, an attractive option for businesses. Providing excellent value, this option appeals to companies of varying sizes, ensuring they receive quality services without financial burden.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and rapid nature of hair follicle drug tests in Dovre, WI, make them stand out. The high accuracy rate ensures that substance use is detected swiftly and reliably, which is crucial for workplaces and legal requirements. Their speed and dependability not only accelerate decision-making processes but also play a pivotal role in maintaining safety and compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Dovre, WI, find peace of mind with hair follicle testing, enhancing compliance with drug-free workplace policies. It mitigates legal risks and fosters a safer work environment, simultaneously safeguarding company interests and ensuring peace of mind.

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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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