Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Knowlton, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis stands out as a significant method for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair strands provide insights into long-term usage by capturing biomarkers within the fibers as they grow. When cut near the scalp, hair offers an approximate detection timeframe of three months for drugs and alcohol. Collecting hair is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hairs (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) from close to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and verification tasks. It is advisable to use 150mg for tests involving EtG, additional panels, or those exceeding 10 panels. Using a jeweler’s scale is suggested for specimen weighing. Should scalp hair be lacking, a similar volume of body hair can suffice. By head hair, we specifically mean hair from the scalp, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The central stages in the lab analysis process of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is first integrated into the lab's system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any other data entries not covered by an electronic chain of custody setup.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for drug abuse substances. Although Screening is an economical way to exclude drug use in most samples, any positive results necessitate confirmation for court acceptance. Samples that test positive in Screening require subsequent verification.

For samples preliminarily positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for the Extraction stage. Here, drugs are extracted from the hair in much lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluids), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is achieved through methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleaned prior to confirmation if needed. Every step from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed in compliance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair program and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Difficult to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test poses significant challenges, enhancing result accuracy.
• Shows historical usage patterns: It offers an insight into a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent substance use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more compared to other drug test techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Knowlton, WI, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in effectiveness. Hair tests offer unmatched detection accuracy by identifying drug use over extended periods. This method eliminates many reliability issues associated with urine testing, thus providing superior insights into substance use for employers, making it highly favored in Knowlton.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Knowlton, WI excels by offering a prolonged detection period of up to 90 days. This extensive timeframe enables employers to have a comprehensive understanding of an employee's or applicant's substance use history. The extended window allows for a more thorough evaluation, which is invaluable for maintaining a safe and drug-free workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests substantially reduce the risk of tampering, offering reliable results in Knowlton, WI. The nature of these tests makes adulteration difficult, ensuring the integrity of the samples collected. This robustness provides unquestionable results, which are crucial for employers aiming to maintain strict drug use policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient hair testing locations nationwide, including Knowlton, WI. Our extensive network ensures easy access to testing services, facilitating a hassle-free experience. With numerous centers, individuals and employers can quickly and efficiently acquire the testing they require without inconvenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Knowlton, WI is both simple and confidential. Ordering and undergoing the test involves minimal steps, addressing privacy and ease of use for participants. This straightforward process ensures confidentiality and relieves concerns over privacy, offering a user-friendly experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Knowlton, WI, Accredited Drug Testing offers competitively priced hair follicle testing with fast turnaround times. Businesses of all sizes benefit from our cost-effective solutions that provide excellent value. Our efficient processing ensures quick results, enhancing affordability and peace of mind for our clientele.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests stand out in Knowlton, WI. With their high accuracy levels, these tests offer quick and reliable substance use detection. This method not only assures fast processing times but also provides dependable results, making it an essential tool for employers seeking efficient drug testing solutions in Knowlton.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Knowlton, WI, using hair follicle testing ensures employer compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This reduces legal risks and promotes a safer working environment. By adopting this method, employers can enhance workplace safety and benefit from the peace of mind that compliance with regulations provides.

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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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