Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Boulder Hill, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means of detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a historical record of substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of a growing strand. When collected near the scalp, it can offer up to a 3-month detection period for such substances. Collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, roughly 200 strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil thickness) close to the scalp provides 100mg, the preferred amount for screening and confirming. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results includes four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the sample's initial processing into a lab system, ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary inspection for drug abuse. Though Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug presence in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation for court acceptability. Samples presumed positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

For presumptively positive samples in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted at lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening a challenging methodology.

Positive screening results are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are washed before confirmation as necessary. The full process from Accessioning through Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection duration: Hair tests can identify drug use up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is quite difficult, increasing the reliability of results.
• Offers historical insights: It can display drug use trends over time, not merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It takes around 5-7 days before drugs appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentration.

Note: Though often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Boulder Hill, IL

Hair testing surpasses urine tests with excellent accuracy, spanning a more extended period of detection. It offers unmatched reliability and cuts the risk of falsely positive results caused by environmental exposure to substances.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Boulder Hill, IL

The capacity of hair follicle testing to identify drug usage over up to 90 days provides a detailed substance history for employers. This extended window offers a fuller picture of an employee's or applicant's habits, key for considerable employment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Boulder Hill, IL

Hair follicle tests dramatically lower the chance of sample contamination, delivering irrefutable, consistent outcomes. This robustness is crucial for maintaining testing integrity against potential interference.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Boulder Hill, IL

Offering a network of testing centers across the nation aids in providing swift and hassle-free testing opportunities. Being easily accessible, this system enables quick logistics for both individual and group test requests.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Boulder Hill, IL

The streamlined process for booking and undertaking hair follicle tests in Boulder Hill addresses privacy and simplicity. This discrete method ensures confidentiality every step of the way, fostering user trust and comfort.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Boulder Hill, IL

Competitive pricing combined with swift result turnaround presents great value for businesses of any size. It balances cost-effectiveness with efficiency, crucial for timely decision-making and satisfying organizational needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Boulder Hill, IL

The efficiency of hair follicle drug tests lies in their speed and precision, allowing individuals and organizations in Boulder Hill to rely on their high accuracy when confirming substance use. With swift results, they offer a dependable option for those seeking timely and precise information.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Boulder Hill, IL

Hair testing ensures adherence to drug-free workforce norms, significantly decreasing legal liabilities and bolstering workplace safety. It's a reliable safeguard, promoting a secure and controlled work environment.

Drug Testing Near Boulder Hill, IL

Plano, IL

Warrenville, IL

Naperville, IL

Plainfield, IL

Batavia, IL

Yorkville, IL

Sugar Grove, IL

Prestbury, IL

Aurora, IL

North Aurora, IL

Oswego, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews