Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bath, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has developed as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term records of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the growing strand. When obtained from the scalp, hair can reveal up to a 3-month detection timeline for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and convenient to ship.

A sample sized at 1.5 inches with approximately 200 hair strands (akin to a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100 mg of hair, perfect for screening and confirming. For EtG, enhancements, and/or testing exceeding 10 panels, 150 mg of the sample is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not an option, a comparable amount of body hair can be utilized. When referencing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four principal stages in lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial integration of a sample into the lab’s system. This process ensures the integrity of the sample's seal and shipment, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any outstanding data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening presents an initial rapid assessment for drugs. While it's a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug usage in most specimens, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Any presumptively positive results in Screening demand a subsequent confirmation.

For presumptive positives in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the primary sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a challenging method to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screen result employs GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positivity undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes audits under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can sense drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is notably challenging, ensuring more reliable results.
• Reveals usage history: It illustrates a drug use pattern over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent consumption: It needs around 5-7 days for drugs to surface in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other testing modes.
• Diverse results: Hair color and individual hair growth differences might impact metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests", it is the hair strands analyzed, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bath, IL Hair follicle tests offer superior detection accuracy over urine tests by providing an extended detection window and minimizing the risk of sample tampering. This reliable method gives insight into long-term substance use, making it a preferred choice for employers and legal settings.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bath, IL Hair follicle testing boasts an impressive detection period, capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior. This extended window presents employers with a thorough view of an individual's substance history, offering valuable insight into their long-term behaviors.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bath, IL Hair follicle tests stand out with their resistance to tampering, as samples are collected in a controlled manner. This minimizes the risk of adulteration, ensuring that results are dependable and trustworthy, a critical factor for accurate drug screenings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bath, IL Accredited Drug Testing's vast network of nationwide centers offers easy access to testing services, eliminating hassle for both employers and individuals. This convenience ensures timely and efficient completion of necessary screenings.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bath, IL Our hair follicle testing process is designed to be straightforward and private. Ordering, taking, and receiving test results are handled with confidentiality and ease, ensuring user comfort and security throughout the testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bath, IL Our competitive pricing paired with rapid turnaround times ensures that companies receive excellent value without compromising on quality. This affordability and speed make us an ideal partner for businesses of any size.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bath, IL Hair follicle drug tests surpass traditional methods in delivering quick and precise outcomes. With cutting-edge techniques, substance use is detected more accurately, providing confidence in the results. This superior speed and reliability make hair testing an ideal choice for those seeking dependable information.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bath, IL Utilizing hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies, enhancing safety and minimizing legal risks. Employers gain peace of mind knowing their testing process is comprehensive, reliable, and aligned with regulatory standards.

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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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