Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Maple Creek, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a historical record of alcohol and other substances through the incorporation of biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When cut near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a three-month record of alcohol and drug exposure. Hair collection is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp yields approximately 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation processes. For tests incorporating EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding ten, a specimen weight of 150mg is advised. It is beneficial to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent volume of body hair is acceptable. The term head hair specifically pertains to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other hair forms (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

There are four critical steps in processing a drug test result in the laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the sample’s initial integration into the lab system. This involves checking the sample for proper sealing and shipment, generating a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further required data input absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening provides a preliminary evaluation for drug presence. Although Screening is cost-efficient in negating drug presence for most samples, any positive Screening results necessitate confirmation for judicial acceptability. Samples showing presumptive positivity during Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample to undergo Extraction. During this process, substances are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other testing methods (i.e., urine or oral fluid). This complexity makes hair drug testing a more challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive results obtained from Screening is done via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples with presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The full laboratory process from Accessioning through Confirmation is audited under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing identifies drug presence for up to 90 days, longer than the detection window of urine testing.
• Resistance to manipulation: The difficulty of deceiving a hair drug test enhances its result accuracy.
• Tracks long-term usage: It offers insights into patterns of drug consumption over a timeline, not just recent occurrences.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent intake: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing incurs higher costs compared to alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual growth characteristics can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite being commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the assessment focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Maple Creek, WI, hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine testing in multiple ways. Hair tests provide a comprehensive view of long-term substance use, detecting drug traces over a three-month period, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection window.

The reliability and resistance to falsification are hallmarks of hair follicle testing, making them an appealing choice for employers who seek a no-nonsense approach to drug testing.

Extended Detection Window

One of the most notable advantages of hair follicle testing in Maple Creek, WI is its ability to detect drug use over an extended period—up to 90 days. This expansive detection window gives employers insights into an individual's substance use history beyond what shorter-term tests can offer.

With hair testing, employers receive a broader perspective on potential hires or current employees, aiding informed decision-making and workplace safety initiatives.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests stand out in Maple Creek, WI due to their tamper-resistant nature. Sample adulteration, often a concern with other testing methods, is significantly minimized, ensuring the integrity of results.

This reliability offers peace of mind to employers who require assured accuracy and honesty in their drug testing initiatives, eliminating doubts related to potential sample manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenience in Maple Creek, WI through a network of nationwide locations. Individuals can easily access testing services without additional hassles, ensuring a smooth process.

Our local facilities enhance accessibility, providing quick and efficient testing, so whether you are in Maple Creek or elsewhere, reliable drug testing services are never far away.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Maple Creek, WI, the process of hair follicle testing is simple and confidential, ensuring peace of mind for all involved. Once the order is placed, individuals can efficiently move through testing and receive their results within a private framework.

This streamlined approach respects privacy while providing clear, efficient service, addressing concerns related to data handling and personal information security throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and quick turnaround times are the hallmarks of our hair follicle testing services in Maple Creek, WI. Our commitment to affordable yet premium service ensures clients receive excellent value.

This balance between cost and rapid result delivery is essential, particularly for businesses of all sizes that must adhere to drug testing policies without overstretching budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The rapid and precise nature of hair follicle drug tests makes them a superior choice for accurate results in Maple Creek, WI. Employers and individuals alike benefit from the test's ability to deliver swift, reliable data on substance use.

The high accuracy of hair follicle tests ensures that results are dependable, cutting down on false positives or negatives that may affect important decisions related to employment or compliance.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Maple Creek, WI promotes compliance with drug-free workplace policies, offering employers peace of mind. By adopting these tests, companies significantly reduce legal risks associated with non-compliance.

This testing method also strengthens workplace safety, providing a secure environment where employees are held to clear, drug-use standards, vital for maintaining a healthy, productive workforce.

Drug Testing Near Maple Creek, WI

Ellington, WI

Hortonville, WI

Royalton, WI

Mukwa, WI

Hortonia, WI

Bovina, WI

Shiocton, WI

Northport, WI

Bear Creek, WI

New London, WI

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews