Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hales Corners, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as a crucial method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strands. When hair is gathered near the scalp, it offers an alcohol and drug detection window of up to about three months. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to send.

A sample length of 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp delivers 100mg, which is the ideal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, extra tests, and/or examinations beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We suggest measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not present, a comparable quantity of body hair can be taken. When mentioning head hair, it pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This process verifies whether the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-effective approach to rule out drug usage in most samples, positive screens need confirmation to be valid in court. Any samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. At this point, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations much lower than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex method to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening results is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed in accordance with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection period.
• High resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, thus resulting in more accurate findings.
• Shows historical use data: It offers a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests", these tests actually analyze the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Hales Corners, WI, hair follicle testing stands out against traditional urine tests in several ways.

• Superior Detection: Hair testing uncovers drug use over a more extended timeframe, revealing patterns that urine tests might miss.
• Reliability: This testing method provides consistent and dependable results that exceed those of urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window in Hales Corners, WI, crucial for evaluating substance use.

• Duration: The test detects drug usage over 90 days, allowing a detailed understanding of an individual’s history.
• Employer Insight: Companies can make informed decisions on candidates and employees based on extended data.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Hales Corners, WI, hair follicle testing greatly minimizes sample tampering.

• Resistance to Adulteration: The structure of hair samples makes them difficult to alter or tamper with, ensuring reliable outcomes.
• Unquestionable Results: Hair testing provides trustworthy and tamper-proof results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient testing locations are abundant in Hales Corners, WI, with our wide network ensuring hassle-free services.

• Nationwide Access: Our centers across the country make testing accessible and efficient for all clients.
• Local Reach: Hales Corners residents benefit from local centers, ensuring quick and easy testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Hales Corners, WI, is simple and confidential, making hair follicle testing stress-free.

• Order and Test: The streamlined procedure allows ease in ordering and testing.
• Privacy Assured: Confidential handling of tests addresses privacy concerns efficiently.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With affordable pricing and swift turnaround in Hales Corners, WI, our testing services provide competitive advantages.

• Competitive Rates: Our cost structures are designed to be budget-friendly while ensuring quality.
• Timely Results: Fast processing guarantees timely turnaround, offering value to companies of varying scales.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, accurate results are crucial for drug testing. Hair follicle tests deliver both precision and speed, providing highly accurate substance use detection.

• Precision: Hair tests show clearer and more reliable results than urine tests.
• Speed: Quick processing of hair samples ensures timely results, benefitting both employers and employees in Hales Corners, WI.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Hales Corners, WI, achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing.

• Policy Compliance: Adhering to workplace drug policies becomes straightforward with accurate hair testing.
• Legal Safety: Reducing risks associated with drug use at work enhances safety and lowers legal issues.

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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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