Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lakeland, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a detailed overview of alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers as they grow. Hair, when collected near the scalp, can reveal substance use over a detection window that extends up to around 3 months for both alcohol and other drugs. The collection is straightforward, tampering is limited, and shipping is uncomplicated.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hairs (approximately the dimension of a #2 pencil) from nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is considered optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or more than 10 panels, a specimen weight of 150mg is advised. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent volume of body hair may be utilized. "Head hair" references only scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other varieties (facial, underarm, etc.).

Process Overview

The procedure for analyzing a drug test outcome in the lab consists of four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially processed into a laboratory’s framework. This process ensures the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary examination for substances of abuse. Although this is a cost-efficient approach to dismiss drug usage in most samples, any positive result from Screening must be verified to be legally valid. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample is deemed presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and set aside for Extraction. During this phase, substances are removed from hair at far lower concentrations compared to other procedures (e.g., urine or saliva), highlighting why hair drug screening is among the most challenging methodologies to execute.

Confirmation takes place for every positive screening result via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Preceding Confirmation, all samples that test presumptive positive are washed as part of the protocol. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use over a 90-day period, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Challenge in test falsification: Manipulating the results of a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring result accuracy.
• Tracks historical usage: This method can outline a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result diversity: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand, not the underlying hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Lakeland, WI offers advantages over traditional urine tests. With a longer detection window and higher reliability, hair testing is more effective at identifying drug use history. Employers benefit from enhanced detection accuracy, minimizing the risk of missed substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Lakeland, WI benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle tests, which can reveal drug use over a much longer period of up to 90 days. This provides a thorough overview of a person's substance history, aiding in thorough employment screening.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Lakeland, WI offers a tamper-resistant method for detecting drug use. The possibility of adulteration is greatly reduced, ensuring that the results are reliable and unquestionable, providing employers with confidence in the accuracy of their substance testing efforts.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing centers nationwide, including in Lakeland, WI, individuals and employers can swiftly access hair follicle testing services. This easy access ensures a hassle-free experience, saving time and simplifying the drug testing process for all parties involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Lakeland, WI is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, privacy is maintained, addressing any concerns regarding the simplicity and discretion of the process, ensuring comfort for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid results, hair follicle testing in Lakeland, WI is both affordable and efficient. Companies of all sizes gain value from the high-quality service and quick turnaround, reinforcing peace of mind and effective budget management.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test in Lakeland, WI offers fast, accurate, and reliable results, allowing for timely decision-making. This testing method is precise, ensuring that substance use is detected with high accuracy, providing peace of mind to employers who rely on dependable data for employment decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Lakeland, WI, hair follicle testing supports workplace compliance with drug-free policies while minimizing legal risks. Employers can achieve peace of mind knowing their testing methods promote safety and adhere to regulations, fostering a secure work environment.

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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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