Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Wells, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair serves as a long-term record for alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer a detection span of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels beyond 10, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for determining the specimen's weight. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. When referring to head hair, it specifically means scalp hair; body hair includes all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in processing a drug test result in a lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into the lab's system, ensuring proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and handling any additional data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening acts as a preliminary check for drug abuse. While Screening is a cost-effective approach to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screening result must be confirmed for it to be legally acceptable. Any samples showing a presumptive positive in Screening demand further confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. This phase involves removing drugs from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is considered more challenging.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are employed for Confirmation of any positive screening results. All samples with presumptive positives are washed prior to confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning through to Confirmation is carried out in accordance with both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer shorter detection periods.
• Hard to deceive: It is exceedingly difficult to manipulate a hair drug test, ensuring greater result accuracy.
• Historical insight: Offers a pattern of substance use over time rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after usage.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other methods.
• Result variability: Influences like hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Wells, WI

• Hair testing provides a superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests, capturing drug use over a longer timeframe.
• The reliability of hair tests ensures substance traces can be identified long after use, making it a preferred choice for employers and legal bodies.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Wells, WI
One of the foremost advantages of hair follicle testing is its ability to reveal substance use over a much longer period, up to 90 days.

• This extended detection window allows employers to trace back an individual's drug use history comprehensively.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Wells, WI

• Hair follicle testing drastically reduces the likelihood of sample adulteration, providing results that are both reliable and trustworthy.

The method guards against common cheating practices, solidifying the test's reputation as a dependable drug screening solution.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Wells, WI

• Enjoy the convenience of nationwide testing centers, including local options in Wells, WI, providing easy and fast access to testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Wells, WI
Hair follicle testing offers a straightforward, confidential process from ordering to the reception of results.

• Privacy is upheld at every step, ensuring user assurance.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Wells, WI
We offer competitive pricing structures for hair follicle testing, ensuring excellent value over a variety of business sizes.

• The added advantage of quick turnaround times ensures efficient service delivery without compromising quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Wells, WI, hair follicle drug testing offers a swift and precise assessment of substance use. This testing method stands out for its exceptional ability to accurately detect a wide range of substances.

• With a rapid turnaround, it delivers reliable results, ensuring prompt and informed decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Wells, WI

• Employers utilizing hair follicle testing ensure strict adherence to drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks.
• This type of testing enhances overall workplace safety, boosting confidence in workforce sobriety.

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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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