Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pleasant Springs, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a potent instrument for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. The strands of hair encapsulate a historical record of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within their fibers as they grow. When sampled near the scalp, hair can reveal alcohol and drug usage for up to a roughly 3-month span. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

An optimal sample comprises 1.5 inches of about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp, providing 100mg of hair suitable for screening and validation. For EtG, supplements, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to collect 150mg of the sample. We suggest measuring the sample’s weight on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is lacking, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. In the context of head hair, we are exclusively referencing scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair categories (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test outcome comprises four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase of logging a sample into a lab's framework. It involves confirming that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data input that wasn’t provided through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for drugs of misuse. Screening serves as an economical means to exclude drug utilization in the bulk of samples, yet a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be valid legally. All samples with apparent positive results during Screening require subsequent confirmation.

If a sample turns up apparently positive during Screening, the remaining specimen is used for Extraction. At this juncture, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening presents the greatest challenge in terms of methodology.

Confirmation of any initial positive screening is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples suspected to be positive are cleansed before confirmation if needed. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning through Confirmation is examined under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation in addition to holding accreditation under ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests are capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Challenging to evade: Cheating a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring more precise results.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a pattern reflecting drug usage over an extended period rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days before drugs become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence the levels of drug metabolites within the hair.

Note: Often dubbed as "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is conducted on the hair strands rather than the follicles beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Outperforms Urine Tests - In Pleasant Springs, WI, hair follicle testing dominates traditional urine tests in reliability and accuracy. By targeting a prolonged detection span and providing a more exact analysis, hair testing ensures comprehensive assessment, becoming an indispensable tool for organizations committed to true drug-free policies.

Extended Detection Window

Prolonged Detection Window - Hair testing in Pleasant Springs uncovers drug usage over an extended duration, up to 90 days. This method provides employers with a clear and thorough history of substance use in potential or current employees, enabling sound decision-making and enhanced workplace integrity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Tamper-Proof - Hair follicle drug tests greatly diminish the chance of test tampering in Pleasant Springs, WI.
Through a robust collection and analysis procedure, they provide results that are beyond dispute, reinforcing trust and dependability in the outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience with Nationwide Reach - Our extensive network of testing centers, including those in Pleasant Springs, WI, ensures easy access to hair follicle drug testing services. With locations nationwide, we make sure the testing process is simple and accessible from wherever you are.

Simple, Confidential Process

Effortless and Confidential Process - Conducting a hair follicle test in Pleasant Springs is a straightforward and discreet process. From ordering the test to receiving results, privacy and user-friendliness are guaranteed, addressing any confidentiality concerns you may have.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective and Prompt Service - Offering competitive pricing and quick processing times, our hair follicle testing services in Pleasant Springs deliver exceptional value for businesses. We focus on providing a solution that fits any budget while ensuring fast and reliable results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

High Speed, Reliable Outcomes - Hair follicle drug testing in Pleasant Springs offers fast and accurate determination of substance usage. Its precision surpasses standard tests, ensuring results you can trust.
Quick collection and processing times ensure a reliable outcome, crucial for time-sensitive decisions, making hair tests the preferred choice in many professional settings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Assurance - With hair follicle tests, employers in Pleasant Springs can confidently uphold drug-free policies, reducing legal liability. This testing approach promotes workplace safety and peace of mind, ensuring compliance and legal protection for all involved parties.

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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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