Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bogota, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has gained recognition as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term chronicle of alcohol and drug use, capturing biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When clipped close to the scalp, hair can offer approximately a 3-month temporal window for detecting alcohol and drug presence. Hair is easy to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hairs (approximately the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for analysis and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advocated. It is suggested to measure the hair using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key steps in processing a drug test in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase of integrating a sample into a lab's operations. This incorporates ensuring the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any further data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. While it is economical in dismissing drug use for most samples, any positive screen must be confirmed to be legally valid. Samples that are initially positive in Screening need follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample be initially positive at Screening, more hair is retrieved from the original batch and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at a much more dilute concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex to execute.

Confirming any initial positive screening result is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All initial positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The full laboratory treatment from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 benchmarks.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for a maximum of 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Hard to deceive: It's very tough to cheat a hair drug test, ensuring higher accuracy of results.
• Historic data provision: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of recent use detection: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual growth variance can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests", the evaluation is conducted on the hair strand, not the underlying hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Bogota, IL

When comparing drug testing methods, hair follicle testing excels in accuracy and reliability. Unlike the standard urine test, hair testing offers a longer detection window and greater precision, making it the preferred choice for those requiring thorough substance use screenings.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Bogota, IL

Hair follicle testing captures drug use over a significantly extended period, up to 90 days. This provides employers with a comprehensive assessment of an individual's substance history, offering insights that urine tests cannot match.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Bogota, IL

Hair follicle tests substantially mitigate the risk of sample manipulation, ensuring results are both reliable and beyond dispute. This enhances the credibility of the testing process, securing confidence in the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Bogota, IL

Our extensive network of testing centers across the nation, including local sites in Bogota, IL, guarantees easy and convenient access to testing services, thus eliminating the hassle involved in obtaining tests.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Bogota, IL

Employing a straightforward and confidential method, our process for organizing, executing, and obtaining test results ensures privacy and ease, addressing any potential stress related to the procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Bogota, IL

Our competitive pricing and expedited response times provide exceptional value, satisfying the needs of businesses of varied sizes while assuring fast and efficient testing outcomes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Bogota, IL

Hair follicle drug tests deliver swift and precise results, ensuring high levels of accuracy in identifying substance use. Unlike other methods, these tests offer a reliable and quick solution for employers and other entities desirous of dependable outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Bogota, IL

Implementing hair follicle testing in workplace policies can assure adherence to drug-free standards, minimizing legal challenges and boosting workplace safety and peace of mind.

Drug Testing Near Bogota, IL

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Dieterich, IL

Sailor Springs, IL

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Dundas, IL

Wheeler, IL

Ingraham, IL

Newton, 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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