Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Plum City, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing stands out as a significant method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive history of alcohol and substance intake by encasing biomarkers in the strands as they grow. When cut near the scalp, hair can offer an approximately 3-month detection span for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, it’s fairly tamper-resistant, and shipping is uncomplicated.

Sampling a 1.5-inch section of about 200 hairs (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, ideal for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unobtainable, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. When mentioning head hair, it pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other types, including facial and axillary.

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This process verifies that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial swift assessment for potential drug misuse. While Screening effectively eliminates drug use for most samples, a positive result needs confirmation to be valid in legal contexts. Samples indicating a potential positive in Screening require further confirmation.

Presuming a sample tests positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. During this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (for instance, urine or oral fluids), which makes hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation of any positive screening is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection duration: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a much shorter detection period.
• Resistant to cheating: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Chronological data: It reveals a drug use pattern over time rather than only recent intake.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: It typically takes 5-7 days before drugs are detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are often costlier compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the actual analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why does hair follicle testing triumph over traditional urine tests in Plum City, WI? The reason lies in superior detection accuracy and reliability. With a longer detection window, hair tests can reveal drug use patterns that urine tests might miss.

Employers and legal entities benefit greatly from the unmatched precision provided by hair testing. Its capacity to discern long-term substance use, compared to urine's short-term detection, makes it an invaluable tool.

Extended Detection Window

For those in Plum City, WI, the hair follicle test boasts an impressive look-back period, detecting drug use for up to 90 days. This extended window provides a broader view of a person's substance history, essential for employers seeking detailed insights.

Such prolonged detection ensures that patterns of substance use are more evident, offering a robust assessment of an applicant or employee's history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Plum City, WI, stands out for its tamper-resistant nature. It is exceptionally difficult to adulterate hair samples, ensuring the integrity of the test results.

By providing unquestionable findings, hair tests lower the risk of deceit, making them a reliable choice for discerning drug use accurately.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of having nationwide testing centers, including those in Plum City, WI, ensures easy access to our services. This network makes hair follicle testing quick and hassle-free for all clients.

With testing sites readily available, individuals and companies alike can schedule assessments without inconvenience, benefiting from efficient services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Plum City, WI, for hair follicle drug testing is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to taking the test, followed by receiving results, the process prioritizes privacy.

Clients can be reassured that each step is crafted to alleviate concerns about ease of use and confidentiality, fostering confidence and trust.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Plum City, WI, our competitive pricing structures and expedited turnaround times offer outstanding value. Businesses of all sizes can take advantage of affordable rates combined with quick, reliable results.

This equilibrium of cost-effectiveness and efficiency ensures that companies receive excellent value, enhancing operational peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Plum City, WI, hair follicle drug tests offer swift, precise, and dependable results. Known for their high accuracy in identifying substance use, they provide an edge over other testing methods.

The efficiency of our testing centers ensures quick processing, delivering results faster. This makes it easier for employers and individuals alike to make informed decisions without delay.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Plum City, WI, find comfort and compliance in hair follicle testing. By adhering to drug-free workplace policies, companies can mitigate legal risks while fostering a safer work environment.

Implementing such testing protocols reassures management teams that their regulations are not only upheld but also reinforced by reliable data and methodology.

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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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