Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Grand Chute, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair retains a comprehensive record of substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. The procedure of collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and easy to send.

A hair sample of approximately 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in thickness) nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional testing, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. In cases where scalp hair isn't present, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. References to head hair exclusively mean scalp hair. In contrast, body hair encompasses all other forms (like facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory analysis of a drug test result primarily involves four steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary step of inputting a sample into the lab’s system. This process includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data entry absent from an electronic custody chain.

Screening includes a preliminary assessment for the presence of drugs. Although Screening is a budget-friendly method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a confirmed screen is necessary for court validity. Samples with a presumptive positive result in Screening require another level of verification.

For samples with a presumed positive result during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. At this stage, drugs are isolated from the hair in much lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid). This complexity makes hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed to be positive undergo washing before confirmation, as appropriate. Both the entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation of ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can unveil drug consumption up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with a limited detection duration.
• Challenging to deceive: Since it is notably hard to falsify a hair drug test, the outcomes are more precise.
• Reveals historical consumption: It presents a time-pattern of drug usage, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent consumption: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to show up in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically costlier than other testing approaches.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the procedure evaluates the hair shaft and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Grand Chute, WI, significant benefits emerge. Hair testing presents a superior detection accuracy, catching substance use over a wider timeframe. Unlike urine tests, which are limited in scope and duration, hair follicle tests provide comprehensive insight into an individual’s substance use history, enhancing workplace safety and compliance.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Grand Chute, WI, is a game-changer. Capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior, this method offers a broader view of an individual's substance use patterns. Employers gain a detailed perspective on potential hires, ensuring informed, reliable recruitment decisions and maintaining workplace integrity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Grand Chute, WI, is praised for being a tamper-resistant testing method. With reduced odds for alteration or manipulation of the samples, this testing method provides results that are dependable and credible. This level of security is vital for maintaining rigorous standards in drug testing, ensuring truthful outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing locations, including those locally in Grand Chute, WI, accessing drug testing services is straightforward. Our extensive network ensures rapid, uncomplicated access, eliminating the hassle often associated with such procedures. Whether local or nationwide, these centers are designed to deliver prompt solutions to meet diverse testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Grand Chute, WI, the process is simple and confidential. From ordering a test to receiving results, the streamlined system prioritizes user privacy and ease, reducing stress for all parties involved. Clients appreciate the straightforward approach, knowing their privacy concerns are addressed and respected at every stage.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing structures paired with fast turnaround times make our services stand out in Grand Chute, WI. We deliver excellent value for businesses of all sizes, ensuring drug testing doesn’t become a financial burden. Timely results, combined with competitive pricing, give clients confidence in their drug testing investment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Grand Chute, WI, hair follicle drug testing offers fast, accurate, and reliable results. Known for its precision, this testing method swiftly identifies substance use, setting it apart from other practices. Efficient processing ensures quick delivery of results, allowing for timely decision-making. Clients can trust the high accuracy levels, ensuring peace of mind when addressing health and safety concerns.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring compliance and peace of mind for employers in Grand Chute, WI, hair follicle testing aligns seamlessly with workplace drug-free policies. This testing technique reduces legal risks and enhances safety protocols, providing reliable assurance for company leadership, and promoting a secure working environment for all employees.

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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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