Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Embarrass, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive history of alcohol and drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers as the hair grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can deliver approximately a three-month detection timeline for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to obtain, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch sample encompassing about 200 strands of hair (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, it is advisable to use 150mg of the hair sample. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we exclusively mean scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary procedures involved in processing a drug test result in the lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial stage of logging a sample into a lab’s system. This step involves confirming that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concluding any further data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of an initial swift assessment for drugs of abuse. While it's a cost-effective means to exclude drug use in the majority of cases, any positive screen must be verified to be valid in court. All samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening must undergo additional confirmation.

If a sample is flagged as positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample to get ready for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted at much lower concentrations from hair than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is the reason hair drug screening is the most rigorous methodology to perform.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo a wash before confirmation as needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and iso/iec 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection range.
• Challenging to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is highly difficult, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Records usage history: It shows a record of drug use over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to spot recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur a higher cost compared to other drug testing approaches.
• Result discrepancies: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Embarrass, WI
The advantages of hair follicle testing over urine tests lie in superior accuracy and reliability. Hair testing offers a wider detection window, capturing evidence of substance use over an extended period, unlike urine tests that only cover a short detection timeframe.

Employers benefit from a more comprehensive overview of an individual's drug habits, establishing a stronger basis for decision-making.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Embarrass, WI
Hair follicle testing excels with its capacity to detect drug use spanning up to 90 days. This extensive window provides employers with an in-depth look at an individual's substance history, highlighting any long-term patterns.

A key factor for organizations is gaining a full understanding of potential employees' backgrounds, ensuring informed hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Embarrass, WI
Hair follicle testing significantly lowers the risks of sample tampering, assuring trustworthy and definitive results. The methodology involved makes it almost impossible to deceive.

In Embarrass, WI, this ensures the integrity of tests remains intact, delivering results that stakeholders can rely on without question.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Embarrass, WI
Offering nationwide testing centers, convenience is at the forefront, providing fast, easy access to essential testing services without hassle.

Local centers in Embarrass, WI, ensure that residents have straightforward access to reliable drug testing, streamlining the process for individuals and organizations alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Embarrass, WI
The hair follicle testing process is straightforward and ensures confidentiality throughout. From ordering to receiving results, each step respects privacy and is user-friendly.

This approach eases any privacy concerns that individuals might have, ensuring convenience and security from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Embarrass, WI
Offering competitive prices and swift turnaround times, hair follicle testing is an attractive option for businesses of all sizes in Embarrass, WI.

Companies gain valuable results efficiently without compromising on cost, ensuring excellent value and peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Embarrass, WI
Hair follicle drug tests offer unparalleled precision and speed, detecting substance use with high accuracy. This efficiency is crucial for employers seeking rapid results with confidence in the test's reliability.

For those in Embarrass, WI, quick turnaround times ensure decisions are made without delay, enhancing workplace safety and compliance immediately.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Embarrass, WI
Utilizing hair follicle testing helps employers effectively align with workplace drug-free policies. This approach mitigates legal risks and enhances overall workplace safety.

Employers can rest assured that their compliance measures are supported by a reliable testing process, fostering an environment of confidence and security.

Drug Testing Near Embarrass, WI

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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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