Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hortonville, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol use. By embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair, a long-term history of alcohol and drug consumption is recorded. Hair taken from the scalp can present an approximate 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs. Hair sampling is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for assessment and verification. For EtG, additional markers, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to determine specimen weight. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a similar amount of body hair is permitted. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation are the pivotal steps in processing a drug test outcome in the lab.

Accessioning is the primary step where a specimen enters the laboratory workflow. This step verifies the sample’s seal and shipment, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any necessary data input absent from an electronic custody system.

Screening is the first assessment for commonly abused drugs. Though Screening serves as an affordable preliminary measure to negate drug presence in most samples, a confirmed positive is required for legal substantiation. Samples yielding a presumptive positive in Screening must undergo further verification.

Presumptive positive samples in the Screening phase entail additional hair extraction from the original specimen, prepping for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are separated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug assessments.

To verify any positive through screening, confirmation is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples with presumptive positive results are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation complies with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredits ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair analyses can reveal drug intake up to 90 days, unlike urine analyses with a more limited window.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating on a hair drug analysis is highly improbable, thus enhancing result reliability.
• Provides historical data: It offers an insight into habitual drug use over time, rather than recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drug presence to register in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug analyses typically bear higher costs than other testing techniques.
• Variations in results: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth discrepancies can alter detection of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is misleading, as the analysis examines the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Hortonville, WI, hair follicle drug testing provides a notable edge over traditional urine tests due to its enhanced detection reliability. Not only do these tests offer a broader window of detection, but they also provide unrivaled accuracy.

• Extended detection period: Hair testing identifies drug use over a longer timespan compared to urine tests.
• Unmatched reliability: The analysis contains fewer discrepancies and affords more dependable results.

This advanced testing approach ensures that employers can confidently identify any drug usage, thereby upholding their standards for a safe and professional work environment.

Extended Detection Window

In Hortonville, WI, hair follicle testing offers an unparalleled extended detection period, capturing drug use traces from up to 90 days prior. This expanded window allows companies to obtain a more comprehensive view of any individual’s substance history.

• Long-lasting detection: Detects usage patterns over weeks rather than days.
• Thorough insight: Provides a complete picture of an individual's drug habits.

For employers, this means a more reliable evaluation of potential and current employees, ensuring that the workplace remains drug-free and secure.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

With its tamper-resistant methodology, hair follicle testing in Hortonville, WI significantly reduces the risk of adulterated samples. Such tests are challenging to manipulate, giving decision-makers confidence in the reliability of results.

• Secure collection: The process is monitored to prevent sample tampering.
• Immutable results: The consistency of hair samples ensures trustworthy findings.

Companies benefit from this robust testing mechanism, knowing that results are both reliable and incontestable, thus supporting informed and fair assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenience in Hortonville, WI, with its extensive network of nationwide centers, facilitating quick and easy access to hair follicle testing services. Having local options means that individuals and businesses can schedule tests with minimal delay or inconvenience.

• Nationwide access: Testing centers present in numerous locations for comprehensive coverage.
• Local convenience: Ensures residents of Hortonville, WI, have nearby testing facilities.

This accessibility ensures a seamless experience for anyone seeking testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Hortonville, WI, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential, providing a straightforward experience from ordering to receiving results. Privacy concerns are addressed with utmost care, ensuring ease of use.

• Simplified process: Easy steps from scheduling to completion.
• Confidentiality focused: Prioritizes the privacy of the individual throughout.

Ultimately, clients enjoy a stress-free process that respects their needs for discretion and speed.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing along with fast turnaround times, our hair follicle testing in Hortonville, WI represents excellent value for businesses of any size. The competitive pricing ensures budgetary considerations are met without compromising on quality.

• Competitive costs: Testing services priced to suit different business sizes.
• Quick results: Expedient processing guarantees rapid delivery of results.

Employers in Hortonville can efficiently manage their drug testing needs with high value and dependable service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests are unparalleled in Hortonville, WI, setting them apart from other testing methods. By accurately identifying substance use, these tests deliver high levels of dependability and swiftly yield results.

• Accurate detection: Hair follicle tests have a high success rate in spotting drug use.
• Quick outcomes: The rapid processing ensures timely reports.

Employers benefit greatly from the expeditious and precise results delivered by hair follicle testing, making it a preferred choice for substance screening in Hortonville, WI. These advantages ensure that companies can make informed decisions based on reliable data.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing gives employers in Hortonville, WI peace of mind by ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. It minimizes legal risks and strengthens workplace safety by identifying drug use accurately.

• Policy compliance: Meets company standards for drug testing.
• Risk reduction: Limits potential legal and safety issues related to drug use.

A trusted method for ensuring a secure work environment, hair follicle testing allows employers to maintain their commitment to a safe and productive workplace.

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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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