Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Broadview, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair assessment has become recognized as a formidable method for identifying alcohol and drug consumption. Hair offers an extensive history of drug and alcohol usage by capturing biomarkers in the fibers of the maturing hair strand. When taken from near the scalp, hair can reveal up to nearly a 3-month detection timeframe for substances such as alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising about 200 hair strands (approximate diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which serves as an optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional substances, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. It is advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler’s scale. When scalp hair is unobtainable, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. When mentioning head hair, we specifically refer to scalp hair only. Body hair denotes all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four principal stages involved in the laboratory examination of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary handling of a sample into a lab’s framework. This procedure includes validating that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and accomplishing any additional data input not offered by an electronic chain of custody mechanism.

Screening entails an initial swift evaluation for substances of abuse. While Screening serves as a cost-efficient approach to eliminate drug use on the majority of samples, a positive screening necessitates confirmation to be valid in court. Any samples indicating a presumptive positive in Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.

Should a sample indicate a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a substantially lower concentration than through other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug screening represents the most intricate methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the certification to ISO / IEC 17025 benchmarks.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests feature a more limited detection period.
• Resistance to manipulation: It is exceedingly challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal a drug consumption pattern over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally costlier than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual disparities in hair growth can influence the level of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests," the assessment itself evaluates the hair strand rather than the scalp hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why choose hair follicle testing over urine testing in Broadview, IL?

Superior detection accuracy puts hair testing ahead.

• Thorough and in-depth analysis
• Significant reduction in false positives

Reliability is a major advantage of hair testing.

With longer detection windows, it ensures better substance use oversight.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Broadview, IL offers an extended detection window up to 90 days.

This long-term view provides employers a comprehensive substance history.

• Covers a three-month period
• Ensures robust substance abuse monitoring

Compared to shorter detection methods, hair testing excels at providing a historical perspective.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Broadview, IL assures security.

Sample adulteration risk is significantly minimized.

• Reliable and unquestionable results
• Ensures authentic testing outcomes

Employers benefit from this integrity, safeguarding their drug testing processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Discover convenient testing locations in Broadview, IL.

Our nationwide centers offer quick and easy access.

• Local facilities ensure hassle-free testing
• Extensive coverage for seamless service

Access to testing services is straightforward and efficient.

Simple, Confidential Process

Engage with a simple and confidential process in Broadview, IL.

Ordering, taking, and receiving results is stress-free.

• Ensures privacy and ease of use
• Streamlined testing procedure

Your confidentiality concerns are addressed, simplifying the entire experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Experience affordable pricing and rapid results in Broadview, IL.

Our pricing structures provide excellent value.

• Competitive rates for all company sizes
• Fast turnaround enhancing decision-making

Businesses benefit from cost-effective solutions paired with swift processing times.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Broadview, IL, hair follicle tests provide fast and accurate results.

Their precision is unparalleled, ensuring reliable outcomes.

The meticulous analysis technique ensures high accuracy in substance detection.

Employers rely on this method for quick and trustworthy results.

• Unmatched sensitivity and specificity
• Rapid processing times

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Broadview, IL, using hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies.

It reduces legal risks and enhances safety.

• Adherence to zero-tolerance protocols
• Improved safety and security

Employers gain peace of mind, knowing they are adhering to legal standards.

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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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