Hair Follicle Drug Testing - New Auburn, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for spotting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair holds a long-term record of substance use by encasing biomarkers in the strands as they develop. Collecting hair near the scalp can yield a detection period of up to about three months for substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to send.

A 1.5-inch hair segment consisting of roughly 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp offers 100mg of hair, which is optimal for testing and validation. For EtG, additional analyses, or screenings exceeding 10 panels, it's advised to use 150mg of the sample. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is advisable. If scalp hair is not available, the equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing for a drug test result encompasses four pivotal steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the sample's initial integration into a laboratory system. This process involves ensuring the sample was appropriately sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening acts as an initial, expedient check for substances of abuse. Although screening efficiently assesses most samples, a positive outcome must be confirmed to be accepted legally. Any samples with presumptive positive results during Screening require further verification.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen to be prepared for Extraction. This phase extracts drugs from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), pinpointing why hair drug testing is the most complex method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive preliminary result is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. Every step from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can ascertain drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection span.
• Hard to falsify: It's exceptionally challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, ensuring more reliable outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It derives a usage pattern spanning time, not merely recent activity.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent activity: Drugs typically become detectable in hair around 5-7 days post-usage.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are pricier compared to alternative methods.
• Result discrepancies: Variables such as hair color and personal hair growth variations can influence metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis is performed on the hair strands, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In the realm of drug screening, hair follicle testing in New Auburn, WI, offers a compelling edge over traditional urine tests. Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing:

• Detection Accuracy: Hair tests boast superior precision, reducing false positives and negatives.
• Reliability: Less prone to tampering, hair tests provide consistent results.

Extended Detection Window

The hair follicle testing method in New Auburn, WI, provides an Extended Detection Window that enables employers to scrutinize up to 90 days of drug use history.

• This extensive timeframe gives a more comprehensive understanding of a person's substance use, which is crucial for maintaining workplace safety and compliance.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests significantly enhance sample integrity in New Auburn, WI, by being a Tamper-Resistant Testing Method.

• The difficulty in adulterating hair samples ensures reliable and unchallengeable results, which is vital for those committed to maintaining drug-free environments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations, including facilities in New Auburn, WI, accessing hair follicle testing is both easy and hassle-free.

• The extensive network simplifies the logistics, allowing for timely and efficient testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The Simple, Confidential Process in New Auburn, WI, assures worry-free hair follicle testing.

• The step-by-step process from ordering to receiving results is designed for ease of use while maintaining privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround times in New Auburn, WI, highlight the value of hair follicle drug testing services. Organizations benefit from a combination of competitive rates and prompt results, ensuring peace of mind and superior return on investment.

• These services cater to companies of all sizes, adapting to varied budgetary needs while maintaining service excellence.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In New Auburn, WI, hair follicle testing stands out for providing fast, accurate, and reliable results. This method swiftly detects drug usage, leveraging its high precision to ensure trustworthy outcomes.

• The speed at which results are obtained does not compromise the accuracy, offering a dependable option for employers and individuals alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in New Auburn, WI, gain Compliance and Peace of Mind through hair follicle testing.

• Implementing such tests ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, reducing liability and boosting safety.

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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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