Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Braidwood, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair traps biomarkers within its fibers, offering a historical record that spans months. When samples are taken close to the scalp, a detection period of up to about 90 days is possible for alcohol and other substances. Collection is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and shipping is convenient.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's diameter) near the scalp provides approximately 100mg, which is optimal for tests and confirmations. For EtG or tests over 10 panels, 150mg is ideal. It is best to measure samples using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equal body hair sample can be used. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for a drug test result consists of four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the phase where a specimen is initially integrated into the lab system. This step verifies proper sealing and shipping, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry requirements not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening gives an initial rapid assessment for drugs. While cost-efficient for excluding drug use in the majority of cases, a positive screen result must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples that are presumed positive during Screening must undergo further confirmation.

For presumptive positives in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. During this phase, drugs are separated from hair at a lower concentration than in alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing more complex to conduct.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS are used to confirm any positive screening findings. Samples that test presumptively positive are cleansed before confirmation, as necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter durations.
• Difficult to falsify: Hair tests are challenging to manipulate, rendering the results more trustworthy.
• Traceable usage pattern: It reveals drug usage trends over time, instead of just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Detection in hair takes about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is typically more costly than other methods.
• Varying results: Hair color and individual growth variations may influence metabolite concentration.

Note: Despite being called "hair follicle tests," these tests analyze the hair shaft, not the follicle itself beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Braidwood, IL

In Braidwood, IL, hair follicle testing provides an edge over traditional urine tests by delivering superior detection accuracy and reliability. While urine tests typically cover short-term drug use, hair testing identifies substance use over longer durations, offering precise insights and robust data for employers, courts, and individuals committed to comprehensive drug detection and safety.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Braidwood, IL

Hair follicle testing in Braidwood, IL, stands out with its prolonged detection period, easily covering up to 90 days of an individual's substance history. This extensive timeframe offers employers a thorough overview of an employee or job applicant’s potential drug use, enabling them to maintain high safety standards and make more informed, responsible recruitment decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Braidwood, IL

Hair follicle tests in Braidwood, IL, significantly reduce the risk associated with sample tampering. Their inherent resistance to adulteration ensures reliable and incontestable results. This method offers a dependable solution for workplaces and legal bodies seeking authentic drug testing outcomes, thereby maintaining integrity and accuracy efficiently.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Braidwood, IL

Residents and employers in Braidwood, IL, benefit from our vast network of nationwide testing centers. Our facilities ensure quick, easy, and accessible services, enabling hassle-free hair follicle testing. This convenience supports efficient drug screening, aligning with modern expectations for rapid and straightforward testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Braidwood, IL

Our process in Braidwood, IL, prioritizes simplicity and confidentiality from order to results delivery. Safeguarding privacy at every step, we ensure a worry-free experience that respects client concerns while maintaining user-friendly protocols. Trust our process for its ease of use, aligning with both personal and professional privacy protection expectations.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Braidwood, IL

In Braidwood, IL, our hair follicle testing services are competitively priced, ensuring excellent value while providing rapid turnaround times. Designed for businesses of all sizes, these affordable options support efficient financial planning, underscoring our commitment to delivering cost-effective, reliable, and timely solutions for all testing requirements.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Braidwood, IL

Hair follicle drug tests offer unmatched precision and speed in detecting substance use. These tests boast high accuracy, capable of identifying drug intake from as far back as 90 days prior, effectively surpassing conventional methods. Individuals and organizations in Braidwood, IL, can rely on these tests for prompt, accurate, and trustworthy results, supporting safer decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Braidwood, IL

Employers in Braidwood, IL, can achieve peace of mind knowing that hair follicle testing aligns with workplace drug-free policies, ensuring compliance and minimizing legal liabilities. This testing practice fortifies workplace safety initiatives, contributing to a more secure environment and reinforcing a commitment to a drug-free workplace standard effectively.

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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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