Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Theresa, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has evolved into a key method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended historical record of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of hair as it grows. Hair samples taken near the scalp can reveal alcohol and drug use within a timeline of up to roughly three months. This method benefits from ease of collection, resistance to tampering, and straightforward shipping.

A sample consisting of 1.5 inches of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp can yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample mass for initial testing and verification. For tests focusing on EtG or exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale for measurement is recommended. In cases where scalp hair is unavailable, body hair may serve as an equivalent alternative. Mentioning head hair implies only scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Laboratory drug test processing encompasses four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary phase where a sample enters a lab system, ensuring correct sealing and shipping, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening provides a swift preliminary examination of drug presence. Although cost-effective, positive screening outcomes require further confirmation for legal admissibility. Presumptive positive samples identified during Screening necessitate an additional confirmation process.

For samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is collected from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are removed from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of positive results is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples with presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated based on the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days, surpassing the brief detection period of urine tests.
• Resistance to tampering: The difficulty of adulterating a hair sample results in more reliable outcomes.
• Records usage patterns: It offers insights into drug usage trends over time, beyond recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lacks immediate detection: Drugs only become traceable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Cost considerations: Hair tests tend to be pricier than other testing modes.
• Result variability: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite being called "hair follicle tests", the procedure examines the hair shaft rather than the follicle itself.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Theresa, WI, hair follicle testing proves superior to urine tests. With an extended detection window and resistance to tampering, hair tests provide more accurate and reliable insights. Employers and professionals favor this method for its comprehensive data on substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Theresa, WI, offers an extended detection period of up to 90 days, unlike traditional methods. This longer window grants employers a thorough view of an individual's substance use history, enhancing decision-making in hiring and compliance.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Theresa, WI, the hair follicle drug testing method reduces the chances of sample adulteration significantly. This tamper-resistant process assures credible and indisputable results, safeguarding the integrity of the drug testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Theresa, WI benefits from convenient access to nationwide testing centers. Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy access to facilities, simplifying the testing process, and offering comprehensive and hassle-free services for all testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Theresa, WI, ordering and undergoing hair follicle drug tests is streamlined and confidential. The simple process ensures that privacy is maintained while also guaranteeing ease of access to reliable test results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Theresa, WI enjoys competitive pricing and swift turnaround with our hair follicle drug testing. Accredited Drug Testing offers valuable services with fast results, ensuring companies of all sizes receive excellent value and peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Accurate and swift results are a hallmark of hair follicle drug tests in Theresa, WI. These tests efficiently detect substance use, offering high precision. The rigorous testing process ensures reliability, making it a preferred choice for both employers and individuals.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Theresa, WI, helps employers uphold drug-free policies. It minimizes legal risks while enhancing workplace safety, providing peace of mind through compliance and maintaining an environment free from substance influence.

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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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