Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Land O'lakes, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a comprehensive record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands as it grows. When procured from near the scalp, it offers nearly a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and drug use. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

Acquiring a 1.5-inch sample of roughly 200 hair strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is ideal for initial and confirmatory assessments. For EtG, additional testing, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is suggested. It’s advisable to measure the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The processing of drug test results in a lab involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial stage that incorporates a sample into a lab’s system. This phase ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary check for drug abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive result demands confirmation to hold up in court. Presumptive positives from Screening mandate a follow-up confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair from the original sample is extracted for further processing. In this phase, drugs are drawn out from the hair at lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis a particularly intricate technique.

Any positive Screening outcome undergoes Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples may be washed before Confirmation. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests that offer a shorter window.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is exceptionally challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical insights: It reveals a usage pattern over time, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Cost: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: While often termed "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strands, not the follicles beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Land O'Lakes, WI, the advantages of hair follicle testing over conventional urine tests are compelling. Hair testing provides enhanced detection accuracy and reliability, surpassing traditional methods. This testing type boasts a superior detection window and maintains consistency over extended periods, making it the preferred choice.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Land O'Lakes, WI, appreciate hair follicle testing due to its ability to reveal drug use for up to 90 days. This extended detection period offers a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance usage history, making it an invaluable tool for assessing applicants or current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle drug testing in Land O'Lakes, WI, is gaining recognition for its strong tamper-resistant features. This method drastically reduces the chances of sample adulteration, delivering unquestionable and reliable results that establish trust in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our widespread network of testing facilities across the nation, including Land O'Lakes, WI, makes accessing drug testing services convenient and efficient. This extensive coverage allows for swift, straightforward access to necessary testing, reducing the hassles associated with organizing examinations.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of arranging, conducting, and receiving results from hair follicle tests in Land O'Lakes, WI, is straightforward and confidential. Every step is crafted to ensure privacy and simplicity, addressing concerns about both personal data security and ease of use, thus making the process user-friendly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid test results, our services in Land O'Lakes, WI, are tailored to provide businesses with excellent value. The affordable pricing and efficient turnaround bolster confidence and peace of mind for enterprises of various sizes seeking reliable testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The efficacy and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Land O'Lakes, WI, are unparalleled. With the capability to provide precise substance detection, these tests render swift and accurate results. The modern methodologies employed ensure high levels of accuracy, promising reliability when screening for drugs or alcohol.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Land O'Lakes, WI, utilizing hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This approach mitigates legal liabilities and promotes a safer working environment, granting peace of mind by supporting compliance and enhancing overall safety standards.

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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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