Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Northwoods Beach, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair strands chronicle a prolonged history of alcohol and other drugs by preserving biomarkers within the structure of the growing strands. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to roughly three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields about 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, a corresponding quantity of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other categories of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of the sample's initial entry into a laboratory's system. This process involves confirming the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any further data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes a preliminary quick assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient approach to dismiss drug consumption in the bulk of samples, a positive screen mandates confirmation to stand valid in judicial settings. Any samples with presumptive positives in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

If a sample yields a presumptive positive outcome in the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are siphoned from hair at concentrations much lower than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring why hair drug screening is the most intricate methodology to accomplish.

Confirmation of any affirmative screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are washed as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can pinpoint drug consumption for up to 90 days, contrasting with the shorter detection timeframe of urine tests.
• Hard to tamper: Cheating a hair drug test poses significant difficulty, enhancing the reliability of results.
• Reveals usage history: It unveils a substance usage pattern across a stretch of time, rather than merely indicating recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: A span of about 5-7 days is required for drugs to become discernible in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug assays are costlier compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis concerns the hair strand as opposed to the follicle within the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Northwoods Beach, WI, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in effectiveness. Hair tests provide superior detection accuracy, reliably identifying drug use over time. Unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection window, hair follicle testing offers a broader detection scope. Enhanced reliability in identifying substance use history makes hair testing a preferred choice for employers.

Extended Detection Window

For those in Northwoods Beach, WI, seeking a thorough understanding of drug use history, hair follicle testing is invaluable. This testing method unveils substance use over an extended period, up to 90 days, granting employers insight into an individual's past activities. This extended window offers a comprehensive view of a candidates' or employee's substance history, ensuring informed hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Northwoods Beach, WI, offers a reliable alternative thanks to its tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other testing methods susceptible to sample adulteration, hair tests uphold integrity standards by significantly reducing cheating risks. This ensures that all results remain dependable and unquestionable, providing assurance of accurate, faithful drug screening for all involved parties.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Situated conveniently, our testing centers, including those in Northwoods Beach, WI, offer nationwide access to drug screening services. We ensure that our facilities are easily accessible, facilitating hassle-free and timely drug testing. This extensive network guarantees quick service access, meeting the need for efficient and local testing solutions without compromising on quality or convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Northwoods Beach, WI, our drug testing process is designed for simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering tests to receiving results, our streamlined approach ensures user privacy is protected. This straightforward method allows participants to engage in testing with ease, addressing any concerns about confidentiality, and providing assurance throughout the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround, our drug testing services in Northwoods Beach, WI, present exceptional value. Recognizing the importance of affordability, especially for companies large and small, we've structured our pricing to be budget-friendly without sacrificing quality, ensuring timely and precise results that bolster business efficiency and confidence in test outcomes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The effectiveness of hair follicle drug testing in Northwoods Beach, WI, lies in its capacity to swiftly and accurately detect substance use. This method provides high precision in identifying various substances, making it a preferred choice for those seeking reliable results. The expedited analysis ensures that recipients receive fast and accurate results, bolstering confidence in the outcomes and decision-making processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Northwoods Beach, WI, hair follicle tests offer compliance assurance and peace of mind. Adopting this testing method helps adhere to workplace drug-free policies, minimizing legal complexities and enhancing workplace safety. By promoting a secure work environment, companies can reduce liability and ensure regulatory compliance while fostering trust within their workforce.

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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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