Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Buffalo, IL

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying the consumption of drugs and alcohol. By embedding biomarkers into the strands of growing hair, it offers an extended history of alcohol and drug intake. Close-to-scalp sampling can yield a detection span of up to 3 months for these substances. The collection of hair is straightforward, challenging to falsify, and convenient to transport.

An optimal sample for both screening and confirmation involves a 1.5-inch length of approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to the girth of a #2 pencil), gathered nearest to the scalp, providing 100mg of hair. For tests such as EtG, additional panels, or beyond 10 panels, 150mg is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn’t available, body hair in a comparable amount can be used. References to head hair signify only scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Processing a drug test in a lab involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning marks the entry point of a sample into a lab system, involving checks for proper sealing and shipping, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any necessary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary examination for substances of abuse. It offers a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug use in most samples, but a positive screen mandates confirmation for legal acceptability. Samples indicated as presumptively positive in Screening need confirmation through a secondary process.

With a presumptively positive sample in Screening, further hair is prepared from the initial specimen for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations than other methods such as urine or oral fluids, contributing to the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptively positive samples are cleaned prior to confirmation as needed. The comprehensive laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests offer detection for up to 90 days, unlike shorter-term urine tests.
• High reliability: The difficulty to tamper with hair drug tests enhances the accuracy of the results.
• Pattern insight: It allows the tracking of drug usage trends over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Recent use detection: Drugs appear in hair after approximately 5-7 days, limiting recent use detection.
• Expense: Hair drug tests incur higher costs compared to other methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and personal variations in growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis involves the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Buffalo, IL, outshines traditional urine tests through superior detection accuracy and reliability. Its ability to trace drugs over an extensive period makes it invaluable for employers and legal authorities alike.

With a virtually non-cheatable collection method, hair testing ensures comprehensive substance abuse screening, providing a robust alternative to standard urine analyses.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window: Hair follicle testing in Buffalo, IL, offers an unbeatable surveillance period lasting up to 90 days. Employers gain an extensive overview of potential hires' or current employees' past drug use.

This prolonged monitoring capability ensures that drug use is accurately tracked, enabling companies to make informed decisions regarding workforce integrity and safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing: Hair follicle tests minimize the chance of cheating, rendering them highly reliable for use in Buffalo, IL. This secure method ensures the integrity of the sample, resulting in unquestionable results.

Unlike urine tests, which can be manipulated, hair tests provide assurance against sample adulteration, thereby maintaining the authenticity of the drug testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations: With nationally spread centers, including those in Buffalo, IL, Accredited Drug Testing ensures easy access to our services. The hassle-free process provides clients with seamless testing experiences.

Our wide network guarantees swift and straightforward access, aiding in timely fulfilment of drug testing needs with utmost ease.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process: In Buffalo, IL, the procedure for ordering, taking, and receiving results from hair tests is straightforward and confidential. Individuals can have peace of mind knowing their privacy is respected throughout the process.

This process addresses privacy concerns, ensuring that individuals and employers enjoy ease of use while maintaining data confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing: In Buffalo, IL, our competitive price structure coupled with a fast turnaround time offers excellent value for businesses of any size. We ensure cost-effective options without compromising on quality or speed.

Our services provide peace of mind to both small and large companies, delivering reliable drug testing cost-effectively and swiftly.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and speed define hair follicle drug testing in Buffalo, IL, offering fast, accurate results. By meticulously analyzing samples, these tests ensure high reliability in detecting various substances accurately.

Combining advanced technology with efficient processing, hair follicle tests deliver rapid and exact outcomes, essential for maintaining workplace integrity and safety.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind: Implementing hair follicle tests in Buffalo, IL, helps uphold drug-free workplace policies, cutting down on legal risks and boosting safety standards.

Employers find comfort in utilizing this reliable testing method, as it aids in compliance with stringent regulatory standards and enhances overall workplace security.

Drug Testing Near Buffalo, IL

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Riverwoods, IL

Vernon, IL

Long Grove, IL

Aptakisic, IL

Horatio Gardens, IL

Buffalo Grove, 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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