Hair Follicle Drug Testing - King, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of substance usage by trapping biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can provide a detection timeframe of up to roughly 3 months for both alcohol and drug presence. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of about 200 strands of hair (approximately equivalent to a #2 pencil's thickness) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for testing and verification. For EtG, additional testing, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair isn't an option, a similar quantity of body hair may be taken. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Outline

The principal stages in processing a drug test result in a laboratory include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial handling of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any further data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid check for substances of abuse. Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use in the majority of samples; however, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for judicial acceptability. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening require an additional confirmation.

Should a sample be preliminarily positive during Screening, further hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most intricate technique to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is carried out through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All tentative positive samples are cleansed prior to confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes assessment under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests offering shorter detection spans.
• Hard to manipulate: Tampering with hair drug tests is exceedingly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Presents historical insight: It tracks drug usage patterns over time, rather than capturing only recent use.

Drawbacks:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: A window of about 5-7 days is needed for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and unique hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although often referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing hair follicle testing against traditional urine tests, the advantages are clear, especially in King, WI. The superior accuracy and reliability of hair testing stand out, given its ability to detect a wider range of substances over a more extended period.

While urine tests focus on short-term detection, hair follicle methods provide a comprehensive picture of past substance use, offering clarity and assurance to employers and other decision-makers.

Extended Detection Window

The extensive detection window of hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage for employers in King, WI. By detecting substance use up to 90 days prior, this method unveils potential patterns of misuse that shorter-term tests might miss.

This broader scope provides a thorough overview of an individual's substance history, equipping employers with the necessary insight to make informed hiring or retention decisions, ultimately promoting a safer workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In King, WI, the tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing is a crucial benefit. This testing method considerably reduces the chances of sample adulteration, guaranteeing results that are both reliable and accurate.

Near impossibility of tampering ensures that the integrity of the testing process is maintained, presenting results that stakeholders can trust, ultimately providing peace of mind and confidence in the outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In King, WI, Accredited Drug Testing makes access to drug testing services remarkably convenient. With testing centers spread nationwide, the process of getting tested is quick, easy, and free from hassle.

This vast network ensures that regardless of location, individuals have readily available options to access testing services, enhancing the ease and accessibility of hair follicle testing across cities.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in King, WI is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to obtaining the results, each step is streamlined, ensuring ease and privacy for users.

Ensuring concerns about privacy and user-friendliness are addressed, this approach demystifies the testing process, allowing individuals to focus on the valuable insights provided by their results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in King, WI offers competitive pricing structures that are affordable for companies of all sizes. Coupled with fast turnaround times, the service provides tremendous value and prompt results.

This combination of affordability and reliability ensures businesses receive high-quality service without financial strain, ensuring peace of mind through cost-effective yet thorough testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed offered by hair follicle drug tests stand unmatched in King, WI. The swift and accurate detection of substances through these methods ensures that results are not only reliable but also timely, crucial for decision-making in sensitive environments.

Combining high accuracy with prompt processing, hair follicle testing is ideal for fast-paced environments requiring immediate results. This ensures that businesses can quickly address any issues and maintain operational efficiency without compromise.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies in King, WI is paramount, and hair follicle testing plays a pivotal role. By adopting this method, employers minimize legal risks while promoting a safe and productive work environment.

The assurance of robust compliance aids in fostering peace of mind for both companies and their employees, knowing that the workplace remains safe and in line with regulatory requirements.

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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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