Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Somerset, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures a long-term record of substance intake by embedding biomarkers within its fibers. When taken from close to the scalp, hair can offer nearly a three-month detection period for substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising about 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred amount for testing. For EtG appendices and/or tests exceeding ten panels, 150mg of hair is suggested. Measuring the sample on a jeweler's scale is advised. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a similar portion of body hair can be used. "Head hair" strictly means scalp hair, whereas "body hair" covers all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The lab processing of drug test outcomes involves these four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning focuses on the preliminary integration of a sample into a lab's system. This stage ensures proper sample sealing and shipping, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes extra data entry tasks not completed by electronic custody methods.

Screening acts as a preliminary check for substance abuse. While it's a cost-efficient approach to dismiss drug usage in most cases, a positive screen must undergo confirmation to be valid in legal contexts. Samples flagged as presumptively positive in screening mandate additional confirmation.

For samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. Here, substances are drawn from hair at concentrations lower than those extracted using other methods (e.g., urine, oral fluids), adding to the complexity of hair drug testing.

Verification of any positive screening results is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. As necessary, all presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is carried out under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation alongside ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can recognize drug usage for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Cheating resistance: Hair drug tests are notably difficult to manipulate, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Historical insight: They can reveal a timeline of drug consumption not limited to immediate usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier relative to other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual hair growth discrepancies may influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests," these evaluations focus on the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why does hair follicle testing outshine urine testing in Somerset, WI?
For starters, hair tests boast a significantly broader detection window, capturing substance use history that urine tests might miss.

• Detection periods extend up to 90 days, providing a comprehensive view of an individual's usage.
• Unlike urine tests, hair samples can't be easily contaminated, thus ensuring accuracy and dependability for critical decisions.

Extended Detection Window

In Somerset, WI, hair follicle testings offer an extended detection window unmatched by other methods.
While urine tests generally detect recent use, hair testing provides a wider lens, revealing up to three months of substance history. This duration allows employers and authorities a more thorough understanding of an individual's long-term behavior and reliability, crucial in key decision-making processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing offers peace of mind in Somerset, WI.

• Unlike easily manipulated urine tests, hair samples are less susceptible to adulteration.
• The non-invasive collection procedure makes it difficult to alter the sample, providing confidence in the results gained from each test.
• Trust in the validity and accuracy of the results with hair testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing centers spanning Somerset, WI, and nationwide, access to hair follicle testing services is effortless.

• Our wide network of locations ensures minimal hassle and quick service, allowing for easy, hassle-free testing experiences.
• Quick and accessible, our services cater to residents of all areas, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Somerset, WI, our hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy concerns readily.
From ordering and collecting samples to receiving results, every step is designed with simplicity and convenience in mind.

• Privacy is a foremost priority, ensuring discretion throughout the process.
• Our user-friendly procedures enhance the experience, offering stress-free testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering affordable pricing and swift results, our services in Somerset, WI are designed for businesses of all sizes.

• Competitive pricing ensures that quality does not break the budget.
• Our fast turnaround time promises timely results, contributing to efficient decision-making processes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision of hair follicle drug testing is unparalleled in Somerset, WI. These tests offer fast and reliable detection of substance use, providing accurate results that surpass traditional methods. With the capability to spot various substances, hair tests ensure high accuracy, making them an essential tool in maintaining a drug-free environment.
The rapid processing of these tests further sets them apart, ensuring timely feedback.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Somerset, WI, hair follicle testing ensures compliance and peace of mind for employers.
By adhering to stringent drug-free policies, businesses minimize legal risks while enhancing workplace safety.

• The method complements a robust drug-free workplace initiative.
• Ensures consistency, offering peace of mind and confidence in employee compliance.

Drug Testing Near Somerset, WI

Alden, WI

Erin Prairie, WI

Roberts, WI

Hudson, WI

North Hudson, WI

Warren, WI

Stanton, WI

Farmington, WI

Star Prairie, WI

Houlton, WI

New Richmond, WI

St. Joseph, WI

Boardman, WI

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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