Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Nepeuskun, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective technique for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair retains a prolonged history of alcohol and drug presence by embedding biomarkers in the strands' fibers as they grow. When taken nearest to the scalp, hair offers a detection window of up to around 90 days for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively hard to alter, and simple to transport.

A sample totaling 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp, supplies 100mg of hair, the preferred amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or tests that exceed 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair may be acquired. When talking about head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair refers to any other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test processing in a lab entails four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the preliminary handling of a sample into the lab's system. This process involves verifying the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary swift assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly means to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed to hold up in legal settings. Samples with a presumptively positive result in Screening need a follow-up confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, more hair is sourced from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a remarkably lesser concentration than other methodologies (for instance, urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days back, whereas urine tests offer a narrower detection window.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insights: It provides a drug use pattern over a longer duration, not solely recent use.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect short-term use: Drugs require roughly 5-7 days to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Results variance: Factors such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the test examines the hair strand and not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Nepeuskun, WI, hair follicle tests surpass urine tests in numerous ways. The heightened accuracy and dependability of hair testing offer a broader detection spectrum, encompassing up to 90 days compared to urine's limited window. Hair assessments are less prone to adulteration, ensuring a genuine reflection of substance use, advantageous for stringent workplace or legal standards.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing prolongs the drug detection window up to 90 days, offering a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance history in Nepeuskun, WI. This extended perspective distinguishes hair testing, providing employers with essential context that surpasses standard assessments, enlightening them on past usage more effectively.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Nepeuskun, WI robustly combats sample adulteration risks. This method's inherent resilience to tampering guarantees precise results that withstand scrutiny, essential for maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of drug testing programs, whether for employment or judiciary requirements.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our extensive network of testing locations simplifies drug testing access in Nepeuskun, WI, and Nationwide. Whether local or expansive, our centers facilitate quick and seamless testing services, eradicating logistical hurdles and fostering an effortless, streamlined process for all involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

The drug testing process in Nepeuskun, WI is straightforward and private. From ordering a test to collecting samples and receiving results, the procedure emphasizes confidentiality. Addressing privacy concerns, it ensures users experience a smooth, hassle-free journey from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Nepeuskun, WI, our competitive pricing and swift turnaround define our hair follicle testing services, catering to businesses of all sizes. Offering excellent value, these tests provide timely access to crucial information without imposing financial stress, ensuring peace of mind for companies.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and swiftness of hair follicle tests stand out in Nepeuskun, WI. These assessments offer impressive exactness, furnishing trustworthy detection of substance consumption. Whether for employment or legal purposes, hair follicle tests deliver rapid, reliable outcomes, eliminating doubts regarding substance exposure.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Nepeuskun, WI employers, hair follicle drug tests provide compliance with drug-free workplace policies, ensuring legal risk reduction and enhanced workplace safety. This method bolsters peace of mind, ensuring alignment with regulations while promoting a healthier workforce 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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