Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Arlington, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is acknowledged as a reliable means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers an extended timeline of alcohol and other drug history by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand's fibers as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a three-month detection period for both alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, relatively hard to alter, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) next to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is the preferred amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result includes four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the introductory step where a sample is processed into the laboratory’s system. It ensures the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. While Screening is economical for ruling out drug presence in most samples, any positive result must be confirmed to be legally acceptable in court. All samples with presumptive positive results in Screening need a secondary confirmation.

If a sample is indicated as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is drawn from the original specimen for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than seen in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples marked as presumptively positive are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation as well as accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection window.
• Hard to manipulate: It is exceptionally difficult to falsify a hair drug test, ensuring greater accuracy in results.
• Offers historical insight: It provides an understanding of drug usage patterns over a longer duration, beyond just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: Drugs require approximately 5-7 days to be detectable in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair drug tests generally incur a higher cost than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Despite frequently being termed "hair follicle tests," the analysis targets the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why does hair follicle testing outshine urine testing in Arlington, IL? The superior detection ability and reliability of hair testing make it a favorable choice.

Hair tests provide an extended detection window, unlike traditional urine tests, giving a comprehensive view of someone's substance use.

Accuracy is another factor; hair tests eliminate many of the inaccuracies seen in urine tests, resulting in more reliable outcomes.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Arlington, IL, offers an extended detection window, revealing drug use over a trackable period of up to 90 days.

Employers benefit as this method provides a broad understanding of an applicant or employee's substance history, greatly surpassing the capabilities of other tests.

The extensive detection period enables detailed insight into patterns of behavior and substance use that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing in Arlington, IL, sets it apart, offering a less vulnerable approach to sample adulteration.

By significantly reducing alteration risks, this testing method guarantees reliability, assuring results remain unquestionable under scrutiny.

Businesses can confidently rely on these tests for their integrity, knowing the results are free from manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Offering convenient nationwide and local locations, testing in Arlington, IL, is streamlined for ease of access and convenience.

Accredited Drug Testing ensures hassle-free services with centers located across numerous cities.

Individuals seeking testing services find accessing them simple and efficient, paving the way for quick resolution of testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

Arlington, IL, residents benefit from a simple, confidential process for hair testing, where ordering and receiving results is straightforward.

Privacy concerns are alleviated thanks to the secure handling of tests, ensuring user data remains confidential at every step.

This efficient system appreciates user ease, guaranteeing satisfaction from test scheduling to receiving the final results.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordability and quick turnaround are key features of hair testing services in Arlington, IL, offering excellent value.

Competitive pricing structures are designed to accommodate companies of varying sizes, providing peace of mind.

Fast service completion ensures minimal disruption to businesses, delivering vital insights swiftly without excessive costs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Arlington, IL, hair follicle drug tests deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results. Precision in detecting substance use is a hallmark of this method, as it excels in identifying drug presence.

The speed at which results are returned combines with high accuracy to make hair follicle testing a preferred choice for employers who value reliability.

Arlington professionals can trust hair follicle testing for detecting a range of substances efficiently, enhancing decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing delivers compliance and peace of mind for employers in Arlington, IL, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies.

By reducing legal risks and boosting workplace safety, hair testing supports companies in cultivating a secure environment.

Employers enjoy the confidence that comes with a compliant approach, leveraging dependable testing to mitigate potential liabilities.

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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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