Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Norwood, WI

What it is, How it works

The utilization of hair testing has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair fiber captures biomarkers of alcohol and drug usage, offering a retrospective timeline of substance intake. Collected near the scalp, hair samples can detect drug or alcohol use over up to three months. Hair collection is straightforward, tampering with it is challenging, and the shipping process is uncomplicated.

A 1.5-inch section comprising approximately 200 hair strands, comparable in size to a #2 pencil and located nearest to the scalp, presents 100mg of hair—ideal for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a recommended 150mg sample is needed. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. In scenarios where scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. By 'head hair', we imply scalp hair exclusively, whereas 'body hair' includes all other hair variants (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory analysis of a drug test result encompasses four principal phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample initially enters the laboratory system. This phase ensures that the sample was appropriately sealed and dispatched, a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) is designated, and any additional data entry is completed if not automated by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening, a preliminary and fast assessment for substances, is a cost-efficient strategy to determine non-usage of drugs on most samples. However, to hold validity in legal settings, any positive results from Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation. Samples yielding presumptive positives from Screening require further confirmation.

In the event of a presumptive positive from Screening, the original sample furnishes more hair to be processed for Extraction. The extraction stage obtains the drug compounds from hair, albeit at lower concentrations compared to alternate tests such as urine or oral fluid testing, making this method particularly challenging.

Any positive findings during screening are corroborated via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Prior to confirmation, all samples deeming presumptive positives undergo washing if deemed necessary. The entire laboratory protocol, stretching from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Expansive detection period: Hair drug screenings can detect drug intake for as long as 90 days, whereas urine screenings have a limited detection span.
• Cheat-resistant: Hair drug tests are notably tough to circumvent, ensuring accuracy in the outcomes.
• Historical pattern insight: They reveal recurring drug use behavior over time, as opposed to detecting only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lacks detection of immediate use: Drugs only become identifiable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair testing is often costlier when compared with alternative drug testing strategies.
• Result variability: Differences such as hair color or individual hair growth patterns can influence the drug metabolite concentrations detectable within hair.

Note: Frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", these tests actually assess the hair strand rather than the hair follicle underneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Norwood, WI
Hair testing provides a clear edge over urine tests in Norwood, WI. With its superior detection rates and comprehensive coverage, it ensures accurate and trustworthy outcomes. Hair follicle tests offer a longer detection period and minimize tampering chances, making them more reliable and precise than traditional urine tests for verifying substance use in various settings.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Norwood, WI
Hair follicle testing in Norwood, WI provides a valuable tool by detecting drug use for up to 90 days, offering a broad view of an individual’s consumption habits. This extended window aids employers in thoroughly assessing the drug use history of employees or candidates, granting a comprehensive insight that urine tests cannot match, thus enhancing workplace reliability and trust.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Norwood, WI
In Norwood, WI, hair follicle drug testing significantly reduces the risk of sample tampering. Once hair samples are collected, altering the result becomes exceedingly difficult, providing authentic and unquestionable findings. This reliability makes hair tests the preferred choice for maintaining integrity in drug testing across various professional and legal environments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations in Norwood, WI
Testing centers in Norwood, WI, offer unparalleled convenience with nationwide locations readily available. This extensive network ensures quick, easy access to testing services, reducing hassle and waiting times. Employers and individuals can benefit from seamless service, making necessary testing procedures straightforward and readily accessible without geographical limitations.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Norwood, WI
Norwood, WI, offers a straightforward and confidential testing process for hair follicle analysis. Easy steps guide individuals through ordering, taking, and receiving results, with privacy guaranteed at every stage. The simplicity and confidentiality of the process ensure peace of mind, addressing concerns about privacy and delivering a user-friendly experience for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Norwood, WI
Norwood, WI, provides competitive pricing and quick turnaround times for hair follicle testing, delivering exceptional value for companies of any size. The affordable options paired with swift results mean businesses can efficiently manage drug testing without incurring high costs, ensuring both budgetary savings and rapid insight into employee substance use.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Norwood, WI
Hair follicle drug testing in Norwood, WI is renowned for its precision and speed. This method offers an unparalleled ability to detect substances, ensuring businesses receive results that are both swift and highly accurate. The advanced technology employed provides assurance of impeccable results, enhancing trust in the testing process, making it a preferred choice over others.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Norwood, WI
Employers in Norwood, WI, can rest easy knowing that hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method supports legal adherence, lowers risks of legal repercussions, and fosters a safer, more productive work environment, granting peace of mind and confidence in maintaining rigorous standards against substance use at work.

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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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