Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hunter, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has become recognized as a potent method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the maturing hair strand. When clipped near the scalp, hair offers roughly a 3-month detection scope for alcohol and illicit substances. Hair is easy to collect, somewhat hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion of about 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the ideal quantity for assessment and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or screenings beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We advocate weighing the specimen using a jeweler’s balance. In the absence of scalp hair, a comparable quantity of body hair can be gathered. When speaking of head hair, we are solely referring to scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four pivotal phases in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This includes verifying the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplemental data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes an initial rapid check for substance abuse. While Screening serves as a cost-effective measure to rule out drug usage in the majority of samples, any positive screening requires confirmation for it to be admissible in legal proceedings. Samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate a secondary verification.

If a specimen is presumptively positive during the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methodologies (ex. urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging technique to conduct.

Confirmation of a positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo cleansing before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is performed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests which have a briefer detection period.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is notably challenging, resulting in more accurate outcomes.
• Yields historical insight: It offers a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent use detection: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug screenings generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual discrepancies in hair growth can influence the drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the examination itself analyzes the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Hunter, WI, the advantages of hair follicle testing over urine tests are clear. This method's unparalleled detection accuracy and reliability make it the superior choice. Where urine tests may fall short, hair testing succeeds with a comprehensive detection range covering a long duration of time.

The reliability of hair tests in Hunter, WI, demonstrates why they're favored over traditional methods. Their ability to detect a wide array of substances over an extended timeframe offers a more robust solution compared to urine tests, ensuring superior testing outcomes.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests are renowned for their extended detection window, capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior. In Hunter, WI, they offer employers an insightful look into an individual's substance history, covering a broader timeframe than standard testing methods.

By using hair follicle testing in Hunter, WI, employers gain a far-reaching understanding of substance use over extended periods. This comprehensive data is crucial in making informed decisions, providing a detailed picture of an employee's or candidate's drug history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Hunter, WI, ensures unmatched reliability. This method reduces the risk of sample tampering significantly, yielding results that are both dependable and unquestionable.

For those in Hunter, WI, looking for a foolproof drug testing method, hair follicle tests are an excellent option. Their design makes them exceptionally difficult to adulterate, ensuring that the outcomes reflect the true substance use history of individuals tested.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of our testing locations in Hunter, WI, combined with our nationwide centers, provides seamless access to drug testing services. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that getting tested is a swift and hassle-free process for all clients.

Whether in Hunter, WI, or elsewhere across the country, our testing facilities offer easy availability and quick access to services. This ensures that all individuals and companies seeking testing can do so with maximum convenience, minimum disruption, and efficiency.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Hunter, WI, the simple and confidential process of hair follicle drug testing at Accredited Drug Testing ensures ease from ordering to receiving results. This streamlined approach addresses privacy concerns while guaranteeing straightforward, efficient testing services.

Clients in Hunter, WI, benefit from a process that prioritizes privacy and simplicity. The testing procedures are designed for user-friendliness, with an emphasis on maintaining confidentiality while delivering swift results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Hunter, WI, offers affordable pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle drug tests. This value-oriented approach ensures that businesses of all sizes can benefit from precise, timely results without breaking the bank.

Offering competitive pricing and rapid results, our services in Hunter, WI, cater to a wide range of clients. The quick turnaround ensures that decisions regarding employment or compliance can be made efficiently, backed by reliable data.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

When it comes to fast, accurate, and reliable drug testing in Hunter, WI, hair follicle tests stand out. Their precision in identifying substance use surpasses other methods, allowing for quick and dependable results. This testing method ensures that every trace is detected, providing high confidence in the results delivered to our clients.

Hair follicle tests excel in delivering results that are both timely and precise. Their proficiency in spotting even minute drug amounts ensures that the final data is as accurate as possible, making it a trusted choice for those requiring reliable testing in Hunter, WI.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle tests in Hunter, WI, brings compliance and peace of mind to employers. Ensuring adherence to workplace drug-free policies, these tests minimize legal risks while enhancing overall workplace safety.

With hair follicle testing in Hunter, WI, businesses can securely maintain a drug-free environment and remain compliant with industry regulations. This method's reliability supports employers in safeguarding their workplaces through meticulous and accurate drug detection.

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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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