Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hager City, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a historical record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within its fibers as it grows. When harvested near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch sample amounting to around 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimum amount for testing and validation. For EtG assessments, additional panels, and/or exceeding 10-panel tests, a 150mg sample is advisable. We suggest measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, a proportionate quantity of body hair can be utilized. In context, scalp hair denotes head hair exclusively, while body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Drug test results are processed through four key steps in the laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary phase where a sample is entered into a laboratory’s system, confirming the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) randomly, and finalizing any extra data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial drug abuse check. Although cost-efficient for eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for court admissibility. Samples indicated as positive in Screening require additional verification.

For samples presumed positive during Screening, additional hair is sourced from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at a much lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening highly challenging to execute.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is conducted in accordance with both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests provide a detection period of up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Difficulty to cheat: Hair drug tests are nearly impossible to falsify, yielding more reliable results.
• Provides historical data: They offer a record of drug use over time rather than merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Cost: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than alternative testing methods.
• Variations in results: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Even though often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In the debate between hair follicle testing and traditional urine tests, hair testing is superior. In Hager City, WI, hair tests provide highly accurate detection and reliability over a more extended period than urine tests, covering up to 90 days of drug history.

While urine tests are accurate for recent drug use within five days, hair tests offer broader detection, helping employers comply with zero-tolerance policies effectively, ensuring a drug-free environment.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Hager City, WI, offers the benefit of a prolonged detection window, identifying substance use for up to 90 days. This extensive period empowers employers with comprehensive insights into an individual's drug history.

The extended timeframe of hair testing is invaluable for employers, revealing long-term substance use that traditional methods might miss, ensuring informed hiring decisions and enhanced workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Hager City, WI, significantly minimizes the risk of sample tampering compared to other methods. This testing approach assures unwavering reliability, providing unquestionable results that withstand scrutiny.

Employers value the tamper-resistant nature of hair tests, ensuring that results are genuine and trustworthy, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of workplace drug policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Testing is convenient and accessible with Accredited Drug Testing's nationwide centers, including in Hager City, WI. Our locations offer quick, easy service, promising a hassle-free testing experience for everyone.

Residents and employers find comfort in knowing that testing facilities are nearby, eliminating travel stress and ensuring timely drug assessments to support organizational needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Hager City, WI, is both straightforward and confidential. Ordering, performing, and receiving the test results is a seamless experience, safeguarding privacy and user ease every step of the way.

Clients and employers are assured a secure, private service from start to finish, reinforcing their trust in our procedures and dedication to discretion in maintaining a drug-free environment.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Hager City, WI, offers competitive, budget-friendly pricing for hair follicle testing. Coupled with rapid turnaround times, companies receive excellent value and confidence in timely results.

Providing affordable testing solutions ensures businesses of all sizes can access reliable services, enhancing workforce safety without financial strain, allowing focus on core operations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and precision of hair follicle drug testing in Hager City, WI, set it apart from other methods like urine testing. The accuracy in detecting substance use is exceptionally high, ensuring reliable results that employers can trust.

Employers and agencies prioritize hair testing because it provides fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes. The ability to quickly identify drug use enables companies to maintain a safe and compliant workplace effortlessly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Hager City, WI, gain peace of mind using hair follicle testing to uphold drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal risk while enhancing safety, ensuring company compliance with ease.

The effectiveness of hair testing fosters a safe workplace environment, reassuring employers of adherence to policies, eliminating substance-related incidents, and supporting a culture of trust and security.

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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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