Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lac La Belle, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol intake. Hair retains a prolonged record of alcohol and drug use by incorporating biomarkers into the strands as they grow. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer close to a 3-month detection timeframe for these substances. It is simple to gather, hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additional tests, or tests beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar amount of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair indicates any other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result primarily involves four steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase of handling a sample within a lab’s system. This process includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data input not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary quick check for the presence of drugs. While Screening is an economical method to disregard drug usage in most samples, a positive result needs confirmation for legal admissibility. Any samples marked as presumptive positive during Screening require additional confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug analysis is among the most intricate methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples presumed positive undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire laboratory procedure is evaluated under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection timeframe: Hair drug analysis can identify drug use for as long as 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Tampering with a hair drug test is very challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Historical insights: It provides an account of drug use over a recent timeline, unlike tests that only capture recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Detectability of drugs in hair takes about 5-7 days to establish.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Influences such as hair color and personal growth rates can alter drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", this test evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Lac La Belle, WI, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests by offering superior detection and reliability. A hair test can identify drug use over an extensive timeframe, which is beyond the reach of urine tests. This capability ensures employers gain an accurate representation of an employee's drug history, minimizing any potential lapses that may occur with urine testing alone.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, crucial for thorough assessments in Lac La Belle, WI. By covering up to 90 days of drug use history, this method provides employers with a comprehensive insight into an individual's substance use, surpassing the limited span of other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests greatly reduce the risk of tampering in Lac La Belle, WI. Unlike other tests that are prone to adulteration, hair tests deliver results that are reliable and beyond doubt, thanks to their resistance to interference, ensuring confidence in the integrity of the results provided.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of Accredited Drug Testing's nationwide centers ensures hassle-free access to testing services in Lac La Belle, WI. Our widespread locations provide quick, easy access, allowing for seamless testing processes to accommodate any schedule, reinforcing our commitment to user convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

With a straightforward and confidential process, hair follicle testing in Lac La Belle, WI, alleviates concerns surrounding privacy and ease of use. Our process for ordering, testing, and receiving results is designed to maintain confidentiality and simplicity, making the experience smooth and stress-free.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Lac La Belle, WI, is committed to offering affordable pricing combined with fast turnaround times. Our competitive pricing structures ensure excellent value, while our efficient processes guarantee peace of mind, catering to companies of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and promptness of hair follicle drug tests make them a top choice in Lac La Belle, WI. With advanced technology, these tests provide fast and accurate assessments, detecting substance use with unparalleled accuracy. This ensures that users receive reliable results quickly, supporting informed decision-making for employers.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Lac La Belle, WI, achieve compliance peace of mind by opting for hair follicle testing. This approach not only reinforces workplace drug-free policies but also mitigates legal risks, promoting a secure and harmonious work environment that benefits both employees and employers.

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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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