Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Salem Lakes, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of its growing strands. When hair is clipped close to the scalp, it can reveal a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and drug use. Hair is easy to collect, poses challenges for tampering, and can be shipped effortlessly.

A 1.5-inch sample containing roughly 200 hairs (akin to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp is needed to obtain 100mg of hair, the ideal amount for both screening and confirmation processes. For EtG tests, enhancements, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is preferred. It's advised to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. The term head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug testing procedure in a laboratory is comprised of four stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase where the sample is integrated into the laboratory system. It involves verifying the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and entering any supplementary data that the electronic chain of custody system lacks.

Screening conducts a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Although cost-effective, a positive result from Screening must be validated for legal acceptance. Any samples with presumptive positives during Screening require further confirmation.

Should a sample be presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and processed through Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of positive Screening outcomes is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples undergo a washing process before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted in accordance with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and certified to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests are capable of identifying drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides historical data: These tests can establish a drug use pattern over time, unlike tests that indicate only recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs have a detectability onset of approximately 5-7 days in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Variables such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can alter the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although termed "hair follicle tests", these assessments analyze only the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to urine tests in Salem Lakes, WI, the benefits clearly favor hair testing. Hair tests provide enhanced detection capabilities, surpassing traditional urine tests in terms of accuracy and reliability. Hair tests can uncover substance use over a more extended period, giving employers a thorough view of an individual's drug history while minimizing errors commonly associated with urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing allows employers in Salem Lakes, WI, to assess drug use over an extended period, typically up to 90 days. This comprehensive detection window provides invaluable insights into an applicant's or employee's substance history, enabling organizations to make informed decisions based on a more continuous analysis of drug use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Salem Lakes, WI, the hair follicle test is a tamper-resistant method that significantly reduces the likelihood of sample adulteration. This assay provides reliable and unquestionable results, delivering peace of mind by ensuring that the tested samples remain authentic and unaltered through the entire collection and analysis process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of nationwide testing centers, including those local to Salem Lakes, WI, makes hair drug testing services easily accessible. Individuals and organizations benefit from quick and hassle-free service locations that streamline the testing process, offering seamless access to essential drug testing services with minimal inconvenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Salem Lakes, WI, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, ensuring that those who participate feel secure about their privacy. From ordering the test to taking it and receiving results, every step emphasizes ease of use, addressing any privacy concerns and guaranteeing a straightforward experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Salem Lakes, WI, offers competitive pricing and quick turnaround times for hair follicle drug tests, making them an attractive option for companies of all sizes. This affordability, coupled with rapid result delivery, ensures that organizations receive excellent value while maintaining peace of mind regarding their drug testing procedures.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test offers unmatched accuracy and prompt results for substance use detection in Salem Lakes, WI. This method excels in precision, providing users with highly reliable outcomes. In comparison to other testing options, hair testing delivers rapid and consistent results, ensuring that individuals and organizations can trust the integrity and swiftness of their assessments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Salem Lakes, WI, benefit from the assurance and compliance associated with hair follicle testing. By implementing this method, organizations align with workplace drug-free policies, effectively mitigating legal risks and enhancing overall workplace safety. This approach fosters a secure environment where both employers and employees can confidently work together.

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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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