Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bellevue, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer an extensive timeline of substance use by encasing biomarkers within the hair shaft as it grows. When clipped near the scalp, hair samples can indicate drug and alcohol use over nearly a three-month period. Collecting hair is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, involving about 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) taken nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirming results. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is advisable. It is best practice to weigh the hair sample with a jeweler's scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar volume of body hair can be used. The term "head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair, while "body hair" denotes any other type (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four primary stages in processing drug test outcomes in a lab: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary stage where a sample is entered into a lab's database. This step includes checking that the sample is sealed and delivered correctly, issuing a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data tasks not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening is an affordable method to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that give a preliminary positive during Screening need further confirmation.

If Screening suggests a potential positive, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair in much smaller amounts than other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting the challenge of hair drug screening compared to other procedures.

Confirming a positive screening involves methods such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Mandatory washing of any presumptive positive samples is performed before confirmation. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire laboratory process adheres to the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Hard to manipulate: It's very challenging to alter a hair drug test, thus enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Tracks historical consumption: Offers insight into a pattern of drug use over a span, not just immediate use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Typically termed as "hair follicle tests," the process evaluates the hair strand rather than the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bellevue, IL
Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle drug tests bring superior detection and credibility. They offer a longer timeframe of drug history, making it difficult for individuals to evade detection. This advantage not only enhances accuracy but also offers a more reliable overview of an individual's drug use history.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bellevue, IL
The unique advantage of hair follicle testing is its ability to detect drug use over an extended window of up to 90 days. This makes it particularly insightful for employers looking to gain a thorough understanding of an applicant or current employee's substance history, thereby aiding in informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bellevue, IL
Hair follicle tests significantly reduce the possibility of tampering with samples, ensuring trustworthy and irrefutable results. Their unique methodology makes it challenging to alter or manipulate the test outcome, providing peace of mind to employers and ensuring compliance with workplace policies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bellevue, IL
Our expansive network of testing centers across the nation, including Bellevue, IL, guarantees convenient and swift access to drug testing services. This widespread availability ensures a seamless experience, allowing individuals and companies to fulfill testing requirements with ease.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bellevue, IL
The process of ordering, undergoing, and receiving results from hair follicle drug tests is designed to be straightforward and confidential. Addressing privacy and user ease concerns, this process ensures a hassle-free and discreet experience, reinforcing trust in our testing services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bellevue, IL
With competitive pricing structures and quick turnaround times, our hair follicle drug tests offer significant value to companies of varying sizes. This combination of cost-efficiency and speed ensures satisfaction, both from a financial perspective and in terms of operational efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bellevue, IL
Hair follicle drug tests stand out for their efficiency and precision. They adeptly confirm substance use with high accuracy, providing quick and dependable results. By precisely capturing past drug use over extended periods, these tests ensure confident decision-making by employers and legal entities alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bellevue, IL
By adopting hair follicle testing, employers can ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies, decreasing potential legal liabilities and boosting overall workplace safety. This testing method bolsters employers' commitment to responsible hiring practices and maintaining a safe work environment.

Drug Testing Near Bellevue, IL

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Peoria, IL

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Bartonville, 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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