Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pittsville, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol usage. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the strands of the growing hair. When collected directly from the scalp, hair samples can offer a detection period of up to about 3 months for both alcohol and other substances. Hair collection is straightforward, moderately challenging to tamper with, and convenient for transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) from the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to have 150mg of the specimen. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to measure the specimen's weight. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be obtained. It should be noted that when referencing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other types of hair (such as facial or axillary).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial phase where a sample is incorporated into a lab's system. This step involves confirming that the sample was properly sealed and transported, attributing a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any outstanding data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for the presence of drugs. Although Screening economically rules out drug use for most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal acceptability. All samples that appear positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair but at a much lesser concentration than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging methodology to execute.

Any positive result from the screening is confirmed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation, if needed. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standard and the ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can indicate drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a much shorter period.
• Difficulty to falsify: It is extremely challenging to falsify results from a hair drug test, enhancing accuracy.
• Tracks historical usage: It reveals a drug use pattern over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs only become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more than other methods.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair pigmentation and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Pittsville, WI, hair follicle testing outperforms urine testing in numerous aspects. The detection window for hair tests is substantially longer, making them a preferred choice for employers.

Hair tests provide superior accuracy, with a detection window of up to 90 days, whereas urine tests are limited to short-term detection.

The reliability of hair testing is unmatched, offering results that are difficult to tamper with, unlike traditional urine tests that are more susceptible to manipulation.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing presents an extended detection period of up to 90 days, unparalleled by other methods, in Pittsville, WI. This long-term view is crucial for assessing substance use patterns.

Employers in Pittsville benefit from hair testing, as it provides comprehensive drug history insights, allowing for more informed decisions.

The extended window of detection enables organizations to enforce drug policies more effectively, with a clear picture of an individual’s substance use history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Pittsville, WI, hair follicle testing provides an almost tamper-proof method, reducing the risk of sample adulteration and ensuring trustworthy results.

This testing method offers more reliability than urine tests, with results that stand up to scrutiny due to the difficulty in manipulating outcomes.

Investing in hair tests means reduced risk of falsified results, offering assurance and accuracy for rigorous drug policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide testing centers, including locations in Pittsville, WI, offer unmatched convenience and accessibility for all your drug testing needs.

With multiple locations, accessing hair follicle testing is straightforward, ensuring prompt and hassle-free service.

Whether local or national, our centers are equipped to deliver efficient testing solutions with ease of access as a priority.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our hair follicle testing process in Pittsville, WI, is simple and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease for all participants.

Ordering, undergoing, and receiving test results are designed to be straightforward, addressing concerns of confidentiality and user-friendliness.

We prioritize a seamless experience, ensuring all testing procedures respect personal privacy and are easy to navigate.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and swift turnaround times are standard for our hair testing services in Pittsville, WI, offering great value to companies of all sizes.

Our affordable rate structure ensures that businesses can access high-quality drug testing without financial strain.

Efficient service delivery with minimal wait times exemplifies our commitment to quality and value in drug testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle tests offer quick, precise, and reliable results in Pittsville, WI. Their ability to detect substances accurately makes them superior in ensuring the right outcomes for drug tests.

The hair follicle method is known for delivering fast results, which are especially crucial for employers needing timely information on substance use.

Choosing hair follicle testing means opting for high accuracy in detecting a variety of substances, providing peace of mind for employers and individuals alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Pittsville, WI, assures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, lowering legal risks while enhancing safety.

Employers gain peace of mind knowing their drug testing methods are comprehensive and align with organizational safety standards, fostering a secure work environment.

Adopting hair testing mitigates legal challenges and maintains a consistent standard, safeguarding both employers and employees.

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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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