Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pickett, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a potent method for detecting the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair serves as an archive of alcohol and drug consumption by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of developing hair strands. When obtained near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection timeframe for alcohol and drugs of up to approximately three months. Hair collection is uncomplicated, relatively resistant to tampering, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation stages. For EtG, additional tests, and/or examinations beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferable. Using a jeweler’s scale is suggested for weighing the specimen. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair is acceptable. By head hair, we specifically refer to scalp hair. All other hair types (such as facial and axillary hair) fall under the category of body hair.

Process Overview

The process of acquiring drug test results in a lab comprises four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial stage that integrates a sample into the laboratory system. It involves verifying the sample's seal and shipping status, allotting a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and supplementing any missing data not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial cursory assessment for drugs of abuse. While it’s a cost-efficient technique for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive result in Screening mandates confirmation to be eligible for court presentation. Samples deemed presumptively positive in Screening require secondary confirmation.

If a Screening test indicates positivity, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and processed for Extraction. Here, drugs are derived from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), giving hair drug screening its reputation as one of the more challenging methodologies to execute.

Confirmation of any positive findings in Screening is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated in adherence to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug usage for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a more limited detection period.
• Difficulty in falsification: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Reveals use history: It sheds light on drug use patterns over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot trace recent use: Detection of drugs in hair takes about 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Hair color and personal hair growth variables can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests," the evaluation is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing outshines urine tests in Pickett, WI, thanks to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair tests offer a prolonged detection window, unlike urine tests.

With hair testing, there's a comprehensive view of an individual's substance use over several months, providing employers with valuable insights.

Compared to traditional urine testing, hair follicle tests are resistant to tampering, offering straightforward and foolproof results.

Extended Detection Window

In Pickett, WI, the extend detection window of hair follicle testing is unmatched, revealing drug use over a 90-day span. This method gives a thorough overview of a person’s substance history.

Employers gain valuable insights into an applicant or employee's past behavior, enabling informed employment decisions based on extensive data.

Through hair testing, companies in Pickett, WI, ensure comprehensive assessments, enhancing drug-free policy enforcement with long-term substance detection.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Pickett, WI, offer a tamper-resistant testing method, effectively minimizing the chances of sample adulteration.

This reliable approach ensures results are indisputable, boosting confidence in drug testing programs and their outcomes.

Employers and legal bodies prefer hair testing for its resistance to manipulation, ensuring integrity and trust in the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Pickett, WI, enjoy the convenience of our nationwide testing centers, providing simple and easy access to hair follicle testing services.

Our local facilities in Pickett ensure you experience fast, hassle-free testing, strengthening employers' ability to maintain a safe work environment.

With widespread locations, access to quality testing is available whenever needed, ensuring the best service experience for users.

Simple, Confidential Process

Experience a simple and confidential hair testing process in Pickett, WI, from ordering to receiving results, ensuring privacy at each step.

Individuals can rely on the discretion and ease of the hair testing process, addressing any concerns about confidentiality and usability.

In Pickett, our testing method guarantees user-friendly procedures, respecting privacy while ensuring accurate drug testing outcomes.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and fast turnaround in Pickett, WI, our hair follicle tests deliver excellent value to businesses of all sizes.

Competitive pricing structures combined with rapid results make our testing services a cost-effective choice for companies looking for reliable solutions.

Fast turnaround times complement our affordable options, providing peace of mind and superior service to employers.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Pickett, WI, hair follicle drug tests provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. Their precision in detecting substance use is unparalleled, ensuring that employers get dependable data.

This method boasts high accuracy, quickly identifying a wide range of substances. It is ideal for individuals and organizations looking for consistent and trustworthy results.

Employers in Pickett, WI, benefit from the speed of hair follicle testing, enhancing the decision-making process with timely, dependable results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Pickett, WI, find compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing, safeguarding their workplace drug-free policies.

By utilizing hair testing, companies reduce legal risks and foster enhanced workplace safety, creating a more secure working environment.

Hair follicle tests ensure organizations meet regulatory standards, providing assurance and confidence in maintaining a drug-free workplace.

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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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