Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Westford, WI

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a potent means for uncovering alcohol and drug consumption. Hair can capture a long-term record of alcohol and other substances by encasing biomarkers within its growing fibers. When taken from near the scalp, hair may offer up to approximately a 90-day detection period for alcohol and drugs. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and transportation is convenient.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of about 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg, the perfect amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG analysis, additional options, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. When discussing head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key steps in a lab's processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial intake of a sample into the lab's system, which involves verifying proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any required data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening includes a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Though Screening offers a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

For presumptively positive samples in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for further Extraction. During this step, drugs are isolated from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome occurs through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as required. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a briefer detection span.
• High resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Displays usage patterns: It can illustrate drug use patterns over a timeline, not solely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect immediate usage: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier compared to alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and individual growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis is performed on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Westford, WI, surpasses traditional urine tests by providing a broader detection timeline for substance use. This method excels in accuracy, rendering drug use results more reliable and difficult to alter, unlike typical urine screenings. Employers benefit significantly as hair testing supports zero-tolerance policies with its extended detection limit and robust test integrity.

Extended Detection Window

With a detection span of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing offers employers in Westford, WI the advantage of a detailed view into a candidate or employee’s drug use history. This unparalleled timeframe supports informed hiring and monitoring decisions, significantly contributing to maintaining a drug-free work environment and fostering trust within the workforce.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests used in Westford, WI, substantially mitigate the chances of sample tampering. This robust testing method's near immunity to adulteration provides credible results. Engaging in unaltered testing boosts confidence in the findings, ensuring decisions regarding personnel are based on solid, unchallengeable data, enhancing test credibility.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our comprehensive network of testing centers, which includes Westford, WI, ensures the convenience of accessing hair follicle drug testing services nationwide. Clients can expect a seamless process for scheduling and undergoing tests, benefitting from the ease and efficiency of our widespread locations, designed to meet varied and expansive needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Westford, WI, the hair follicle testing experience is marked by simplicity and confidentiality. From test ordering to receiving results, the process is streamlined for user convenience while steadfastly protecting personal information. This assures clients that their data is handled securely, bolstering confidence in the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Westford, WI’s hair follicle drug testing services are competitively priced, ensuring affordability combined with swift result delivery. These cost-effective solutions underscore excellent value, providing businesses of all sizes with timely and accurate screening results that reinforce organizational safety and compliance at a great price point.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and accurate results define the hair follicle testing process in Westford, WI. Through precision technology, this testing method delivers high accuracy in identifying substance intake levels. This reliability ensures that organizations can trust the results when making critical decisions regarding employee safety and compliance, further bolstering workplace standards.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Westford, WI employers, hair follicle testing aids in maintaining compliance with no-drug policies, effectively reducing legal exposure. This testing method upholds workplace safety by ensuring a drug-free environment, offering peace of mind that policies are enforced cleanly and clearly, which safeguards business interests and employee safety alike.

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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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