Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sharon, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers as it grows. Extracted near the scalp, hair can cover a detection span of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) taken nearest the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale is suggested for weighing the specimen. In cases where scalp hair is absent, a comparable quantity of body hair may be gathered. When discussing head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (i.e., facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary phases in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This step verifies proper sealing and shipping of the sample, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfills any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody setup.

Screening constitutes an initial swift evaluation for substance misuse. Although Screening is an economical method to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be legally valid. Samples presumed positive during Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

Should a specimen show a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, further hair is drawn from the original sample and readied for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at a much lower concentration than other testing techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is conducted via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Difficult to manipulate: It's considerably challenging to fraudulently bypass a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal a pattern of substance use over time, beyond recent use alone.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur greater costs than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand itself, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Sharon, WI

• Hair testing surpasses urine by providing extended drug use detection windows.
• Offers superior accuracy and reliability, minimizing manipulation risk.
• With a non-intrusive collection process, hair tests set the standard in effective drug detection, making them the preferred choice over traditional methods.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Sharon, WI

• Hair follicle tests expand the drug detection window to 90 days, unlike other methods.
• Employers gain insights into an individual's historical substance use patterns.
• This long-term view aids in making informed hiring decisions, ensuring workplace safety and compliance with drug-free policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Sharon, WI

• Hair follicle tests significantly lower the chances of test tampering and adulteration.
• These tests ensure results remain reliable and valid, offering indisputable peace of mind.
• Employers can trust the integrity of hair testing, reinforcing adherence to strict safety protocols and policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Sharon, WI

• With facilities across the country, testing is accessible, quick, and hassle-free.
• Local Sharon testing sites facilitate prompt service, minimizing disruption.
• Ensures convenience and compliance, with every test just a short visit away, helping maintain efficient project timelines without added stress.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Sharon, WI

• The process for hair testing is streamlined and private, from order to result.
• Clients have confidence in their privacy, ensuring personal data remains protected.
• Ease of testing alleviates concerns and promotes a stress-free experience, supporting operational efficiency.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Sharon, WI

• Competitive pricing strategies mean great value for all organizations.
• Fast turnaround times ensure quick decisions while maintaining budgetary limits.
• Elevating service ensures stakeholders receive impactful and satisfactory outcomes, meeting diverse needs effectively.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Sharon, WI

• Hair follicle tests ensure high precision and timeliness in detecting substance abuse.
• Their robust accuracy offers trust and confidence for evaluators.
• With swift processing, you obtain results without delay, aiding quick decisions and actions for the concerned individuals or institutions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Sharon, WI

• Implementing hair testing supports adherence to workplace drug policies.
• Minimizes legal risks by reinforcing a commitment to a drug-free environment.
• This reliable method bolsters safety, providing financial and social benefits and fostering an environment of trust and security.

Drug Testing Near Sharon, WI

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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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