Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Round Lake, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug usage by capturing biomarkers in the strands of the hair as it grows. When cut near the scalp, hair may reveal drug use and alcohol consumption for up to roughly three months. Hair collection is straightforward, comparatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.

A sample consisting of 1.5 inches of approximately 200 hair strands (about the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen mass of 150mg is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. Should scalp hair not be available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. In the context of head hair, we mean only scalp hair. All other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.) are considered body hair.

Process Overview

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

Accessioning entails the first processing phase of a sample into the lab’s system. This step checks if the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data input not covered by an electronic custody chain system.

Screening includes a preliminary quick evaluation for drug use. While Screening is a cost-efficient method for ruling out drug consumption for most samples, a positive screen needs verification to be permissible in legal scenarios. Any samples testing presumptively positive in Screening demand a secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening stage, more hair is taken from the original sample and made ready for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations than other methods like urine or oral liquid, which is why hair drug testing is the most challenging method to conduct.

Any positive Screening result is confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug use for almost 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a significantly shorter detection period.
• Hard to falsify: Manipulating a hair drug test is quite challenging, leading to more reliable results.
• Historical insight: It illustrates a usage pattern over a certain timeframe, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect immediate use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be more costly compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth may influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When considering drug testing methods in Round Lake, WI, hair follicle testing stands out compared to traditional urine testing. The advantage lies in its superior detection accuracy and reliability, providing a comprehensive analysis over an extended period. This makes it favorable for those who need a robust testing solution.

Hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing by offering a more reliable window for detecting substance use. Its ability to trace drug consumption over a lengthy period provides employers and legal authorities an invaluable resource for maintaining compliance and security.

Extended Detection Window

In Round Lake, WI, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window that goes beyond conventional methods. By analyzing hair samples, this test can reveal drug use over the past 90 days, granting employers a thorough overview of an individual's substance history. This extended coverage offers a clearer view of an applicant or employee's drug behaviors.

The ability to detect drug use over a 90-day period makes hair follicle testing in Round Lake, WI, particularly advantageous. This comprehensive detection window helps employers make informed decisions, ensuring safety and adherence to workplace standards.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Round Lake, WI, provides a tamper-resistant method to drug screening, substantially reducing risks of adulteration. This approach secures the integrity of the results, making it nearly impossible to cheat, thus ensuring reliable outcomes for both employers and legal bodies.

The stringent processes involved in hair follicle testing make it a trustworthy option in Round Lake, WI. The decreased risk of sample tampering ensures accuracy and conclusiveness, giving peace of mind to those who rely on clear, factual results for important decisions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key in drug testing, and our nationwide centers make it seamless for individuals in Round Lake, WI. Our accessible locations ensure quick, smooth, and hassle-free testing experiences, catering to the needs of businesses and individuals alike.

With testing centers located across the nation and locally in Round Lake, WI, we offer an unrivaled level of convenience. This widespread availability means testing is always within reach, providing effortless access to essential drug testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of ordering, undergoing, and obtaining results from hair follicle testing in Round Lake, WI, is straightforward and private, emphasizing confidentiality and ease. This simple approach addresses concerns of privacy while ensuring a worry-free experience for individuals and employers.

In Round Lake, WI, the hair follicle testing process is crafted for simplicity and confidentiality. Quick, easy ordering and testing procedures ensure privacy and ease of use, reassuring employers and individuals who prioritize a non-intrusive, discreet experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Round Lake, WI, our competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing provide excellent value for businesses of any size. We ensure affordability without compromising on the quality or speed of results, making this an attractive option for many companies.

Our pricing structures for hair follicle testing in Round Lake, WI, are designed with affordability in mind. Coupled with a rapid turnaround, this approach offers significant value, assuring companies of timely results that meet their stringent budgetary needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug testing are unmatched in Round Lake, WI. This method provides quick, accurate, and reliable detection of substance use. Hair follicle tests are known for their high accuracy in identifying drug and alcohol traces, offering peace of mind through their dependable outcomes.

Employers and individuals seeking swift and precise drug testing solutions in Round Lake, WI, will find hair follicle testing to be a superior option. This testing approach ensures prompt results without compromising accuracy, critical for maintaining a drug-free environment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Round Lake, WI, gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, as it guarantees compliance with workplace drug-free policies. By minimizing legal risks and promoting workplace safety, this method proves effective in maintaining a secure and regulated environment for employers and employees alike.

Hair follicle testing provides a reliable means for employers in Round Lake, WI, to uphold drug-free policies. Enhancing workplace safety and lowering potential liabilities, this method offers a clear, trustworthy option for businesses seeking to ensure a compliant and secure 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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