Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pence, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become widely acknowledged as an effective method for detecting the use of alcohol and drugs. Hair serves as a reliable historical record by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair shaft as it grows. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer approximately a 90-day window for detecting drugs and alcohol. Hair is straightforward to collect, not easily altered, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or testing beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. Use a jeweler's scale to measure the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair may be utilized. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four principal stages in processing a drug test result in the laboratory comprise Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. It includes verifying the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs an initial rapid check for drug abuse. While Screening is an economical method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, any positive result must be confirmed for court validity. Samples showing presumptive positive results during Screening require secondary confirmation.

When a sample shows a presumptively positive result in the Screening phase, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are removed from hair at much lower concentrations compared to methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of all positive screening results is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter window.
• Hard to tamper: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, thereby improving accuracy.
• Historical usage data: It can show a pattern of drug consumption over time, not only recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing outperforms urine testing in Pence, WI, by offering superior detection and reliability. While traditional urine tests are limited in their detection periods, hair testing provides an extended window to detect substances, capturing a more comprehensive history of drug use. This makes it an invaluable tool for employers and other entities seeking to uphold zero-tolerance policies.

Extended Detection Window

In Pence, WI, the extended detection window of hair follicle tests can reveal drug use patterns over approximately 90 days. This feature offers employers a broad perspective on an individual's substance history, enhancing decision-making processes. This long-term view is especially beneficial for ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle test is a tamper-resistant method employed in Pence, WI, significantly curtailing the risk of test adulteration. Its unique collection process ensures that the results are both reliable and indisputable, providing peace of mind to employers and legal bodies that require verifiable evidence of an individual's substance use history.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing locations in Pence, WI, and nationwide, individuals can access hair follicle testing services without hassle. The extensive network of testing centers ensures easy and swift access, providing individuals and businesses a user-friendly way to fulfill their testing needs without unnecessary delays.

Simple, Confidential Process

Offering a simple and confidential process in Pence, WI, hair follicle drug testing ensures that ordering, taking, and receiving results are straightforward and discreet. This seamless procedure prioritizes user privacy, making it an appealing choice for those who value both simplicity and confidentiality in their testing services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Pence, WI, hair follicle testing boasts competitive pricing and quick turnaround times. This approach provides excellent value, ensuring that businesses, regardless of size, can manage their testing needs effectively. The fast result delivery enhances operational efficiency, providing assurances about the substance status of employees swiftly.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Pence, WI, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for delivering swift and reliable outcomes. With a high level of accuracy, these tests are adept at identifying substance use, making them a preferred choice for employers and legal entities. The speed and precision of these assessments ensure that individuals receive clear and trustworthy results, enhancing confidence in the testing process.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Pence, WI, find compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. By aligning with drug-free workplace policies, this method safeguards employers against legal ramifications and elevates workplace safety, reducing the risk of substance-related incidents and fostering a more secure working 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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