Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Armington, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged record of drug and alcohol use by embedding biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. When taken close to the scalp, hair offers up to a three-month window for detecting alcohol and drug presence. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches containing about 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect quantity for assessment and confirmation. For EtG, additional evaluations, or testing beyond 10 panels, 150mg of sample is advisable. It's suggested that the sample be weighed on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When we say head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test result, which are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory system. This process includes ensuring the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary swift assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach to rule out drug usage in most samples, a positive screening result must be validated to be permissible in legal proceedings. Samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening require a secondary verification.

If a sample tests preliminarily positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial batch and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at lower levels of concentration than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing one of the most complex methodologies to perform.

Confirmation of a positive screening outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with preliminary positive results are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The complete process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and certified to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, leading to more reliable results.
• Supplies historical records: It can reveal a pattern of drug consumption over time, not only recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot trace recent use: Detection in hair takes roughly 5-7 days after drug usage.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests," the examination focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When assessing drug testing methods in Armington, IL, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing in several key ways. With enhanced detection accuracy and longer analysis periods, hair tests provide more reliable outcomes.
Unlike urine testing, which only reveals recent substance use, hair analysis captures a full spectrum of drug history over months, giving a more complete view.

The reliability and reduced manipulation risk of hair testing make it a superior choice for many testing needs.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Armington, IL, benefit from hair follicle testing's extended detection ability. Capable of revealing drug use up to 90 days, this method ensures a comprehensive view of one's substance history, helping employers assess past behaviors accurately.
Compared to urine tests, hair analysis covers more ground, detecting long-term usage trends rather than just recent activities.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Choosing hair follicle testing in Armington, IL, significantly curtails tampering risks. Due to its unique collection and analysis process, hair testing offers reliable, clear results that deter attempts at sample adulteration.
Employers can place trust in hair tests' integrity, gaining peace of mind from understanding their findings are genuine.

This method's resistance to manipulation ensures honest, accurate results that affirm or refute suspected drug use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous nationwide and local centers, accessing hair follicle testing in Armington, IL, is both quick and convenient. This availability ensures easy access to necessary testing services, minimizing delays or hindrances.
Accredited Drug Testing’s locations across the country provide hassle-free options for clients, helping to streamline the entire testing process from start to finish.

Simple, Confidential Process

At Accredited Drug Testing in Armington, IL, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step prioritizes privacy and ease of use.
The seamless procedure alleviates concerns regarding personal data handling, making the testing experience stress-free and straightforward.

Clients can rely on a secure process that respects their confidentiality at every stage.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and fast turnaround, hair follicle testing in Armington, IL, is a valuable solution for companies. Accredited Drug Testing ensures affordability without compromising quality, appealing to businesses of varying sizes.
Quick results and budget-friendly rates provide excellent value and assurance to employers seeking reliable drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Armington, IL, hair follicle drug testing offers fast, accurate results, setting it apart from standard methods. This testing method boasts precision in identifying substance use, providing reliable data employers can trust.
Hair follicle tests quickly pinpoint drug use with accuracy that surpasses more traditional forms of testing.

This superior detection capability ensures employers receive thorough and trustworthy results, enabling informed decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies in Armington, IL, hair follicle testing delivers peace of mind for employers. This method conforms to strict regulations, reducing legal risks and enhancing overall workplace safety.
By adopting hair testing, businesses can confidently uphold zero-tolerance environments and assure compliance with industry standards.

This security translates into a safer, more productive workplace for all.

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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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