Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bartonville, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is widely recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a comprehensive retrospective of drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of a growing hair strand. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use history up to a 3-month span. The collection process is straightforward, with minimal risk of tampering, and the samples are easy to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hair strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) taken nearest the scalp, suffices to provide 100mg of hair—optimal for initial testing and subsequent confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not obtainable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can serve as a substitute. The term head hair pertains exclusively to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types of hair (beard, underarm hair, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory steps for processing a drug test result chiefly include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves recording the sample into the lab’s system at the outset. This step confirms the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addresses any additional data inputs absent in the electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of an initial check for illicit substances. While Screening economically rules out drug use in most samples, positive screens must be confirmed for court acceptability. Samples presumed positive during Screening necessitate additional verification.

If a sample tests presumptively positive in the Screening phase, extra hair from the sample is prepared for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation of any positive result from the screening process is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples with presumptive positive results are washed prior to needed confirmation. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited in accordance with both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a briefer detection window.
• Hard to evade: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, ensuring more reliable outcomes.
• Offers usage history: It provides a record of drug use over time, not just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Limited to past use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to be traceable in hair.
• Price: Generally, hair drug tests incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result discrepancies: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth patterns may influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often dubbed as "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Outshines Urine Testing in Bartonville, IL
Hair follicle testing offers numerous benefits over traditional urine tests. With superior detection capabilities, hair testing provides a longer window to capture substance use, commonly up to 90 days, while urine tests typically span only a few days. This extended detection range is crucial for employers seeking to maintain substance-free workplaces and ensure safety.

Extended Detection Window

Long-Term Detection Capabilities in Bartonville, IL
By analyzing hair samples, drug use can be detected over an extensive period, typically up to 90 days, offering employers a more comprehensive assessment of an individual's substance history. This longer detection window provides an invaluable tool for evaluating potential risks, ensuring applicants and employees adhere to workplace policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Tamper-Resistant Testing in Bartonville, IL
Hair follicle testing significantly minimizes the risk of manipulation and adulteration, ensuring results are dependable and trustworthy. This method establishes a higher standard of accuracy compared to other testing options, providing a secure means of evaluating an individual's substance use history, critical for maintaining integrity in testing processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Testing Locations in Bartonville, IL and Nationwide
With convenient testing centers across the nation, including Bartonville, IL, accessing drug testing services becomes easy and hassle-free. This wide network ensures you can efficiently arrange for hair follicle testing wherever you are, facilitating swift and seamless processes so businesses can maintain their operational flow without interruption.

Simple, Confidential Process

Streamlined and Confidential Testing in Bartonville, IL
The process for hair follicle testing at our centers is simple and confidential. From order placement to results reception, every step is designed to respect privacy and offer ease-of-use. This ensures that individuals can complete necessary testing seamlessly, with all assurances on confidentiality maintained throughout the entire process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing and Quick Turnaround in Bartonville, IL
Our hair follicle testing services offer competitively priced solutions, making it an economical option for businesses of all sizes. Coupled with fast turnaround times, these services present excellent value, allowing companies to manage drug testing efficiently and effectively, ultimately contributing to a better-managed workplace environment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Accurate and Dependable Results in Bartonville, IL
Hair follicle drug tests deliver fast, dependable, and precise results, making them an excellent option for detecting substance use. Their high level of accuracy allows employers to confidently assess an individual's history with substance use, ensuring that decisions are based on reliable and factual data. Quick processing further enhances their appeal.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Employer Peace of Mind in Bartonville, IL
Utilizing hair follicle testing promotes compliance with drug-free workplace regulations, reducing potential legal issues and enhancing overall safety. Employers can trust that this testing method helps uphold stringent policies, providing peace of mind and fostering a more secure and productive work environment for all employees.

Drug Testing Near Bartonville, IL

Peoria Heights, IL

Mapleton, IL

East Peoria, IL

Pekin, IL

North Pekin, IL

Lake Camelot, IL

Peoria, IL

Marquette Heights, IL

Creve Coeur, IL

West Peoria, IL

Bellevue, IL

Limestone, IL

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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