Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Beverly, IL

What it is, How it works

The assessment of drug and alcohol consumption via hair testing is widely considered an effective strategy. By capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows, hair offers a comprehensive timeline of drug and alcohol use. When hair is gathered close to the scalp, it can reveal a detection period of roughly three months for substances. Hair collection is straightforward, less susceptible to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches comprising roughly 200 strands of hair (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp is preferred, equating to 100mg, making it ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a sample of 150mg is suggested. We advise measuring the sample with a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent portion of body hair can be utilized. Here, head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test result in the lab comprises four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is where the sample is first integrated into the lab's system. This phase involves ensuring that the sample is properly sealed and shipped, allocating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data input that the electronic chain of custody system hasn't covered.

Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs. While it's an economical way to negate drug use for most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples that show a likely positive in Screening demand further verification.

For samples indicating a likely positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methodologies (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing one of the most complex to execute.

Positive screening results are validated through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, any samples suggesting a positive are cleansed as necessary. The whole lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and complies with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Unlike urine tests, hair drug tests unveil drug use for up to 90 days.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, ensuring the accuracy of results.
• Patterns historical data: It provides a view of drug usage over time rather than only recent use.

Limitations:

• Not suitable for detecting recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other methods of drug testing.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the evaluation focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Excels Over Urine Testing
In Beverly, IL, hair follicle testing provides advantages over traditional urine tests. Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy, making them more reliable. Their extended detection window captures a comprehensive history of substance use. As the gold standard, hair tests surpass urine tests in thoroughness, ensuring peace of mind for stakeholders with their invaluable insights.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Beverly, IL
Hair follicle testing offers an advantage with its long detection period stretching up to 90 days. This provides a thorough view of an individual's substance history, aiding employers in Beverly, IL, to make informed decisions. By drawing from extended timeframes, hair tests illuminate past behaviors better than shorter-term methods, enhancing workforce safety and integrity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Tamper-Resistant Testing
The hair follicle test's design in Beverly, IL, minimizes the potential for tampering. By extracting hair samples directly under observation, these tests ensure integrity and transparency. Their resistance to adulteration secures reliability, offering results that hold up under scrutiny, which is critical in maintaining trust within drug testing protocols.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Testing Centers in Beverly, IL
With our widespread network, finding a testing center is easy. Nationwide locations, including those in Beverly, IL, enable prompt service access. Convenience and proximity ensure minimal disruption, making routine drug testing hassle-free for both individuals and organizations, benefiting from our efficient, easily accessible locations.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplified and Confidential Testing
Ordering, performing, and receiving results from hair follicle tests in Beverly, IL, is streamlined and private. Our process ensures confidentiality, addressing privacy concerns smoothly. Through ease and simplicity, we make the testing journey straightforward, enhancing user experience and safeguarding sensitive information at every stage.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing and Swift Results
In Beverly, IL, our hair follicle tests offer value alongside speed. Our competitive pricing caters to businesses of all sizes, ensuring budget-friendly solutions. Rapid turnaround times combined with affordability affirm our commitment to excellent service, underscoring the utility and efficiency of our testing procedures.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Accurate Testing in Beverly, IL
Leveraging hair follicle drug tests in Beverly, IL, not only ensures rapid results but also boasts unmatched accuracy. Known for their precision, these tests efficiently indicate substance use, offering reliable detection with swift turnover times. Their inherent accuracy strengthens confidence in results, making them the preferred choice for assessing substance use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Employer Assurance
In Beverly, IL, adopting hair follicle testing promotes better adherence to drug-free workplace policies. These tests reduce legal risk and elevate safety through consistent, tamper-proof procedures. Employers gain confidence in maintaining compliance, aiding in preventing workplace incidents and fostering a trustworthy working environment for all.

Drug Testing Near Beverly, IL

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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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