Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gleason, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a record of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the hair shaft's fibers as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer up to a 90-day window for detecting alcohol and drug use. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch length of about 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the hair is advisable. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be obtained. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in the laboratory evaluation of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the entry of a sample into the laboratory system. This consists of confirming that the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any supplementary data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial evaluation for substances of abuse. While Screening offers an economical means to eliminate drug use for most samples, a favorable screen must be confirmed for it to be legally valid. Any samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening require further confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and set for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a much lesser concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is among the most challenging techniques to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are presumptive positive are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is quite difficult, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical data: It offers a pattern of drug use over an extended period, not just recent instances.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It takes approximately 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair shaft and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Stands Out in Gleason, WI
Hair follicle testing presents numerous advantages over standard urine tests. This advanced method offers extended detection times and enhanced accuracy. While urine tests are commonplace, hair testing's ability to detect substances over a 90-day span makes it a superior choice.

Contrastingly, urine tests are limited to a shorter detection window. In Gleason, WI, adapting to hair follicle testing means harnessing a more reliable and comprehensive drug testing solution, assuring superior results for employers and other stakeholders.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Gleason, WI benefit from hair follicle testing due to its extended detection window. This advanced testing method traces drug use up to 90 days prior, offering a comprehensive review of an individual's substance history. This proves vital in maintaining a drug-free work environment.

Unlike traditional tests, hair testing unveils long-term patterns of use, making it indispensable for organizations aiming to understand the chronicity and frequency of drug usage among employees or candidates.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Gleason, WI, hair follicle testing stands as a tamper-resistant method of drug testing. The cutting-edge process ensures that samples are less likely to be contaminated or adulterated. This form of testing exemplifies reliability, offering results that are both dependable and hard to manipulate.

With its inherent resistance to tampering, this test reassures employers aiming for integrity in their testing procedures. It guarantees that results remain untainted, allowing for credible and definitive conclusions about an individual's drug use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures convenience through nationwide and local testing locations in Gleason, WI. The widespread network allows easy access to testing services, eliminating hassles and facilitating prompt test administration, crucial for busy individuals and employers.

Our testing centers provide the necessary infrastructure for seamless service, connecting communities with efficient and accessible solutions. This network means that no matter where you are in Gleason, a testing center is within reach.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Gleason, WI, the process of hair follicle testing is simple and confidential. Starting with an easy order placement, followed by a swift testing session, and culminating in securely delivered results, every step prioritizes privacy and comfort for the client.

This straightforward approach alleviates concerns regarding confidentiality, ensuring that individuals feel secure and at ease while undergoing substance use testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our testing services in Gleason, WI are marked by affordable pricing and a fast turnaround. We offer competitive rates without compromising on quality, providing excellent value to businesses regardless of size. Timely results empower companies to make informed decisions swiftly.

Affordable yet comprehensive, our services set a new standard in the drug testing industry, ensuring that cost doesn't impede access to reliable testing for any organization.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Gleason, WI, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision ensures that substance use is detected accurately, leaving no room for doubt. This method not only quickens the testing process but also guarantees high levels of accuracy, outmatching traditional testing methods.

The tests are designed to swiftly identify substance presence, delivering results promptly. Their speed outpaces traditional methods, meaning that those in Gleason are assured of timely and precise findings, offering peace of mind to employers and individuals alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing in Gleason, WI, ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method minimizes legal liabilities while bolstering safety. Employers gain peace of mind, knowing that the comprehensive nature of hair tests solidifies their stance against workplace substance abuse.

The enhanced detection capabilities of hair testing provide a reliable defense against potential discrepancies, ensuring employers maintain a secure and compliant working environment free of narcotics.

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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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