Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bingham, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures a prolonged record of substance use by embedding biological markers in the fibers of the hair as it develops. Collected near the scalp, hair can offer nearly a three-month timeframe for detection of drugs and alcohol. It's straightforward to gather, somewhat hard to tamper with, and convenient for transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) cut closest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, perfect for both screening and verification. For more comprehensive testing like EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, it's advisable to use 150mg of the specimen. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for measuring the specimen. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair is suitable. The term head hair refers exclusively to the scalp hair, while body hair includes all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Outline

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

Accessioning is the initial step where a sample is processed into the lab's system. This step involves ensuring the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any leftover data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical method to exclude drug use for the majority of samples, a positive result during screening needs confirmation to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening require a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample receives a presumptive positive result during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and processed for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are separated from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing a challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned prior to confirmation, as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, gets reviewed under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and with accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can reveal drug use over a span of up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, thus, results are more reliable.
• Offers historical insights: It delivers a record of drug use over time, rather than just recent usage.

Constraints:

• Doesn't catch recent use: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in the hair.
• Price: Typically, hair drug tests are pricier compared to other drug testing modalities.
• Result variations: Differences such as hair color and personal growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests," the actual test scrutinizes the hair strand and not the follicle embedded in the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Bingham, IL, it's evident that hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine testing in several ways. With its extended detection period and pinpoint accuracy, hair testing is undeniably reliable for identifying long-term substance use.

The inability to easily tamper with or reduce the detection time frame further establishes hair testing as superior to urine tests, making it the preferred choice for many employers in Bingham, IL.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Bingham, IL, offers an in-depth view into an individual's substance history, covering up to 90 days. This extended detection window is invaluable for employers needing comprehensive insight into drug use over a more considerable time frame.

Unlike urine tests, which provide a shorter detection period, hair testing ensures that they gain a broader understanding of potential substance abuse, reflecting a long-term overview.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Bingham, IL, the hair follicle drug test is renowned for its resilience against tampering, significantly lowering the risk of contamination or sample adulteration. It ensures the integrity and reliability of the results.

Employers and legal systems trust hair testing to deliver indisputable outcomes, vital for maintaining high safety and trust standards in environments requiring drug screenings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our extensive network of Nationwide testing centers provides unrivaled convenience in facilitating hair follicle testing for clients in Bingham, IL. Local sites guarantee facile access to drug testing services, streamlining the process.

Whether you're a resident or an employer, testing locations across Bingham, IL, ensure a hassle-free experience, offering quick and easy service without compromising quality.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Bingham, IL, we understand the significance of a straightforward and confidential testing process. Our hair follicle testing involves effortless ordering, conducting, and receiving of results, addressing privacy and usability concerns.

Every step is designed to protect participants' confidentiality and provide a seamless experience, underpinning our commitment to discretion and ease.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Providing cost-effective pricing and rapid turnaround times for hair follicle testing, businesses in Bingham, IL, experience favorable value. This ensures satisfaction regardless of a company's size or budget.

By maintaining competitive rates, we support organizations looking for reliable drug testing solutions that enhance workplace safety without incurring high costs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test in Bingham, IL, stands out with its speed and accuracy, providing fast results while maintaining a high level of reliability in detecting substance use. Employers and individuals alike count on these tests for their precision.

Ensuring quick, accurate readings, hair follicle tests surpass other methods in spotting drug use, reducing the chances of overlooking substance involvement. Their efficiency delivers results that can be trusted.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Bingham, IL, ensures employers can maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal liabilities. This assurance contributes to a safer work environment by reducing potential risks associated with substance abuse.

Utilizing this testing method supports maintaining peace of mind among employers, knowing they comply with regulations while safeguarding workplace productivity.

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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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