Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Burnham, IL

What it is, How it works

A hair test has become recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It captures a prolonged timeline of substance usage by embedding chemical markers within the fibers of actively growing hair. When obtained near the scalp, hair may reveal a detection span of up to roughly 90 days for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation processes. For EtG, additional attachments, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen. Should scalp hair be unobtainable, equivalent body hair might be gathered. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types, such as facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

There are four primary stages in the lab processing of drug test results: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial process of incorporating a sample into a lab system. This phase ensures the sample is appropriately sealed and sent, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfills any data entry absent from an electronic custody system.

Screening is a preliminary cursory assessment for substances of abuse. While cost-effective in eliminating drug usage for most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples indicated as presumptively positive via Screening mandate further confirmation.

If the Screening stage results in a presumptively positive outcome, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. Here, substances are isolated from hair at considerably lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or saliva), which emphasizes the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome utilizes GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if needed. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed in accordance with both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug testing reveals drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection windows.
• Difficulty to cheat: The complexity of tampering with hair drug tests yields more precise results.
• Provides historical data: It traces a pattern of substance use over time, not just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Detection takes about 5-7 days for substances to become evident in hair.
• Cost: Generally more costly than other types of drug tests.
• Variations in results: Factors such as hair color and personal growth rates might influence the concentration of metabolites.

Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis concerns the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing hair follicle testing with urine tests in Burnham, IL underscores superior detection accuracy. Hair tests provide a much longer detection period.

Hair testing also offers enhanced reliability and nearly eliminates the risk of sample tampering compared to urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Burnham, IL extends its detection window up to 90 days, far surpassing traditional methods.

This extended period allows employers to assess an individual's long-term substance history comprehensively.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Burnham, IL, hair follicle testing boasts a tamper-resistant methodology, minimizing the risk of adulteration.

This technique provides employers and authorities with reliable and unquestionable results, enhancing trust in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With accessible testing centers across the nation, including Burnham, IL, our services ensure convenient and efficient testing access.

The local proximity of our facilities enables seamless and hassle-free testing experiences for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Burnham, IL, our hair testing process is simple and private, from ordering to result delivery, addressing privacy concerns.

Clients can trust the confidentiality and straightforward nature of our service.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing in Burnham, IL, our hair follicle testing services guarantee fast results and good value for businesses.

Quick turnaround times ensure benefits without sacrificing quality or reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Burnham, IL, are renowned for their fast and reliable outcomes. Their high accuracy rate ensures the identification of substance use with precision.

The quick processing time of hair testing facilitates a swift turnaround for results, offering assurance and dependability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Burnham, IL achieve compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing, adhering to drug-free workplace policies.

This testing method reduces legal risks and promotes a safer working environment.

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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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