Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Washington, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures biomarkers within the strands, offering a comprehensive record of substance use over time. When taken near the scalp, hair can reflect drug or alcohol activity over a three-month span. Collection is straightforward, withstanding tampering, and it transports easily.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches in length and consisting of roughly 200 hairs (comparable to the diameter of a #2 pencil) provides 100mg of hair—optimal for initial and confirmatory testing. For EtG, extended panels, or when testing beyond 10 panels, 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler's scale for weighing the specimen is recommended. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. References to head hair pertain specifically to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types, including facial and underarm hair.

Process Overview

The laboratory method for processing a drug test outcome includes four pivotal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the procedure of entering a sample into the lab's records. This step verifies the sample was sealed and sent properly, assigns a Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and may include additional data entry not captured through an electronic chain of custody.

Screening conducts an initial assessment for substance misuse. As a cost-efficient approach, it helps to exclude drug use for most samples; however, any positive screen findings require confirmation for legal credibility. Samples testing presumptively positive need subsequent confirmation.

In cases where a sample tests positive during Screening, further hair portions are taken from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drug compounds are removed from hair in significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair drug screening particularly complex.

Positive results from Screening are corroborated using techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with positive presumption are washed before confirmation if necessary. The laboratory's full process from Accessioning through Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug screenings can detect use for up to 90 days, which is longer than urine test detection periods.
• Resistance to tampering: The challenge of subverting a hair drug test means more reliable results.
• Tracks usage patterns: It offers insights into substance patterns over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Delayed detection capability: Drugs take nearly 5-7 days to register in hair.
• Expense: Typically, hair drug testing incurs higher costs compared to other methods.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentration in hair can be influenced by factors such as hair color and individual growth patterns.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," these tests analyze the hair shaft rather than the subdermal hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why do hair follicle tests outperform urine tests in Washington, WI? The superior detection accuracy of hair testing highlights its advantages over urine tests. While urine tests may cover recent drug use, hair tests detect substance use over a more extended period. This makes hair testing a reliable choice for employers seeking comprehensive drug use data, ensuring they maintain strict drug policies efficiently.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Washington, WI, provide a prolonged detection window for drug use, up to 90 days. This extensive timeframe helps employers understand an individual’s substance use history better than urine tests. Whether it's for pre-employment screenings or ongoing employee monitoring, this comprehensive time frame assists in making informed decisions based on an extended view of substance use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Reducing the risk of sample adulteration is crucial, and hair follicle tests in Washington, WI, excel at providing tamper-resistant results. By nature, collecting hair samples circumvents many methods of tampering seen in urine testing. This reliability reassures employers that the data they receive is genuine and unmanipulated, fostering trust in workplace substance abuse policies and compliance measures.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Conveniently located testing centers in Washington, WI, and nationwide ensure hassle-free access to drug-testing services. This network of locations allows employers and individuals to easily find nearby centers for prompt and thorough testing. With established facilities across the country, accessing reliable drug testing has never been simpler, supporting the needs of businesses and individuals alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Washington, WI, is simple and confidential, easing privacy concerns. Ordering, taking the test, and receiving results are streamlined for user convenience. The confidentiality ensures that all data remains private, giving peace of mind to individuals and employers alike. This straightforward approach to drug testing emphasizes ease of access and privacy from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Washington, WI, offers great value. Companies of all sizes appreciate the affordability and efficiency of these services. Fast processing ensures results are delivered promptly, reducing downtime and maintaining productivity. By providing cost-effective and reliable testing, businesses can confidently secure the safety and compliance of their workforce.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision of hair follicle drug tests in Washington, WI, stands out in the realm of substance use detection. Offering fast results with high accuracy, these tests ensure that employers receive reliable data. Their advanced technology is built to detect a wide array of substances efficiently. In contrast to traditional methods, hair testing provides a streamlined approach, delivering prompt and dependable results that organizations can trust.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Washington, WI, hair follicle testing provides much-needed compliance and peace of mind regarding drug-free workplace policies. By choosing hair tests, companies mitigate legal risks and bolster workplace safety. This method aligns with zero-tolerance policies effectively, ensuring that all employees adhere to company standards and helping maintain a productive and safe work environment.

Drug Testing Near Washington, WI

Waubeka, WI

Slinger, WI

Allenton, WI

Polk, WI

Kewaskum, WI

Newburg, WI

Trenton, WI

Barton, WI

West Bend, 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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