Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pine Grove, WI

What it is, How it works

The application of hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair strands offer an extended overview of drug and alcohol consumption by containing biomarkers within the strands of the hair as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair may reveal drug and alcohol use for about up to a quarter of a year. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

Collect a 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly equivalent to a #2 pencil width) nearest to the scalp to yield 100mg, which is the ideal sample amount for screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advisable to collect 150mg of the sample. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used instead. When mentioning head hair, it is specific to scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test result processing in a lab generally includes four foundational steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample is initially processed into the laboratory system. This process verifies that the sample is sealed and shipped appropriately, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any outstanding data entry that an electronic chain of custody might not cover.

Screening involves a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Although a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screen needs a confirmation to be accepted in legal proceedings. Samples showing presumptive positive results during Screening require a secondary confirmation step.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are withdrawn from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other techniques (for instance, urine or oral fluid testing), making hair drug screening a challenging methodology.

Positive screening outcomes undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples with presumptive positives are subjected to washing before moving to confirmation as necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug testing can determine drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which offer shorter detection periods.
• Challenging to evade: Cheating a hair drug test is highly difficult, ensuring more precise results.
• Offers historical insight: It can illustrate a pattern of drug consumption over time, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs become noticeable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be costlier than alternative drug testing modalities.
• Result inconsistencies: Attributes such as hair color and individual variations in hair growth might influence drug metabolite concentration in the hair strands.

Note: Commonly misnamed "hair follicle tests," the test evaluates the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Pine Grove, WI

Hair follicle testing offers a superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. Unlike urine samples that can only detect recent drug use, hair tests analyze usage over an extended period, making them highly reliable. For employers in Pine Grove, WI, choosing hair testing means better insights into an individual's long-term substance habits, providing a clearer picture that urine cannot match.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Pine Grove, WI

Employers in Pine Grove, WI, benefit from hair follicle testing's extensive detection window, up to 90 days, which reveals an individual's substance use history comprehensively. This extended range gives a broader perspective on an applicant's or employee's past behavior, aiding in more informed hiring or management decisions. It's an invaluable tool for assessing long-term compliance with drug-free policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Pine Grove, WI

In Pine Grove, WI, hair follicle tests offer a robust defense against sample adulteration, vastly reducing the risk compared to urine tests. The inherent characteristics of hair make it a reliable medium for drug testing, providing results that are difficult to compromise. Confidence in the integrity of test results is assured, empowering employers with trustworthy data for decision-making.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Pine Grove, WI

With Accredited Drug Testing, accessing testing services is effortless in Pine Grove, WI, thanks to our widespread national presence. Our facilities are conveniently located, offering hassle-free, quick service without compromising thoroughness. Whether local or national, our centers ensure ease and accessibility for all drug testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Pine Grove, WI

In Pine Grove, WI, our streamlined process for hair follicle testing prioritizes simplicity and confidentiality. From order placement to results reception, our procedures ensure privacy, addressing concerns about data security and user ease. Clients can trust our discreet services to confidently manage drug testing with minimal stress.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Pine Grove, WI

Accredited Drug Testing presents competitive pricing structures in Pine Grove, WI, offering rapid turnaround for results without sacrificing quality. Our services bring excellent value, supporting companies of all sizes in managing their drug-free policies efficiently and cost-effectively, ultimately granting them fiscal and operational peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Pine Grove, WI

Hair follicle drug tests in Pine Grove, WI, ensure precision and timely outcomes. The methodologies employed guarantee high accuracy in detecting substances, offering rapid responses and facilitating informed decision-making. The efficiency and reliability of hair testing allow individuals and organizations to act swiftly, ensuring workplace safety and compliance with ease.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Pine Grove, WI

Adopting hair follicle testing helps Pine Grove, WI, employers maintain compliance with strict drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal liabilities and promoting occupational safety. By ensuring substance use is detected and addressed, organizations protect their employees and uphold industry standards, granting peace of mind and reinforcing a safe 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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