Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Shullsburg, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for detecting substance use. Hair captures biomarkers within the strands of hair, offering a comprehensive history of substance use. When taken close to the scalp, it can reveal drug and alcohol consumption over a span of up to 90 days. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.

Taking a 1.5-inch sample of about 200 strands, equivalent to a #2 pencil in thickness, close to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, perfect for screening and confirmation. Testing that includes EtG, or exceeds 10 panels, recommends 150mg. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for accuracy. In cases where scalp hair isn't available, a similar amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" pertains exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" covers all other types like facial or underarm hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory drug testing process involves four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the entry process of a sample into the laboratory system, ensuring proper sealing and shipping, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data not gathered electronically.

Screening provides an initial evaluation for substance presence, cost-efficiently eliminating the majority as negative. However, a positive result during Screening requires further Confirmation for legal admissibility. Any initial positives in Screening need secondary verification.

When Screening suggests a positive, additional hair from the primary sample undergoes Extraction. This process extracts substances at far lower concentrations than alternative methods such as urine or oral fluids, which is why hair testing is particularly intricate.

Confirming any positive findings is accomplished using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Samples tested positive initially are cleaned as needed before Confirmation. The entire pathway from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized according to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards, and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditations.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can detect usage up to 90 days, whereas urine tests look at a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Tampering with a hair test is very challenging, ensuring higher accuracy.
• Historical usage patterns: This method provides a historical view of substance use, rather than only recent activity.

Drawbacks:

• Not for recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to show in hair after use.
• Expense: Hair testing usually costs more than other types of tests.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and growth rate can influence test outcomes.

Note: While called "hair follicle tests", they actually analyze the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing with urine testing in Shullsburg, WI, the advantages of hair testing become evident. Detection accuracy is superior, identifying drug and alcohol presence effectively over a more extended period. Hair tests provide a more comprehensive look at an individual's substance use history, whereas urine tests are limited to a shorter detection window, rendering hair testing a more reliable choice.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, making it particularly advantageous in Shullsburg, WI. With the ability to identify drug use over a span of up to 90 days, employers gain valuable insight into an individual’s long-term substance habits. This extended detection period allows for a historical review of substance use that urine tests cannot match.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the primary benefits of hair follicle testing in Shullsburg, WI, is its tamper-resistant nature. It significantly reduces the chances of sample adulteration, providing results that are both reliable and trustworthy. Unlike other methods susceptible to tampering, hair testing ensures that the results are beyond reproach, offering assurance to employers and legal entities.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of our nationwide testing centers in Shullsburg, WI, ensures easy and hassle-free access to our services. Providing quick and straightforward testing processes, these locations are designed to cater to the needs of individuals and employers, offering access to quality testing solutions wherever one may be located.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Shullsburg, WI, the process for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. From ordering to sample collection to receiving results, the entire process is designed to maintain privacy and ease of use. This straightforward approach ensures that all stakeholders have a seamless experience without concerns over confidentiality breaches.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing services in Shullsburg, WI, boast affordable pricing and fast turnaround times. Designed to provide excellent value, our pricing structures accommodate companies of all sizes. Businesses appreciate the cost-effectiveness and quick results, enhancing peace of mind and offering significant return on investment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Shullsburg, WI, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their speed and precision. Their high accuracy ensures substances are reliably detected, supporting confident decision-making processes. The fast nature of results delivery enables timely insights into any illicit substance intake. Moreover, their reliability minimizes potential errors, presenting a trustworthy option for monitoring drug use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Shullsburg, WI, incorporating hair follicle testing into workplace policies ensures compliance and peace of mind. Such testing upholds drug-free workplace standards, reducing potential legal implications while enhancing workplace safety. Employers can confidently rely on hair tests to maintain a secure and compliant work environment.

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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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