Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cambria, IL

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of substance use by entrapping biomarkers within the evolving hair strand. When sourced from near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising about 200 hair strands (around the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will produce 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the specimen is advisable. We suggest weighing the specimen using a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be absent, a comparable quantity of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory analysis of a drug test result involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial introduction of a sample into a laboratory's workflow. This step includes verifying that the sample was secured and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of an initial assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening offers a cost-effective method for excluding drug use across most samples, a positive screen must be verified for court acceptance. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

For samples that are presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, substances are drawn from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other approaches (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing a challenging process.

The Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards for accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can trace drug consumption for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection timeframe.
• Resistant to evasion: Cheating a hair test is exceedingly difficult, ensuring greater result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a drug use pattern over time rather than merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent intake: There is a 5-7 day delay before drugs become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be more costly than alternative testing methods.
• Outcome variability: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", this examination actually assesses the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing is Better than Urine Testing in Cambria, IL
Hair follicle tests offer superior detection accuracy compared to urine tests. With the ability to trace substance use over an extended period, they provide more detailed insights.

The hair test’s extended detection capability, lasting up to 90 days, gives a thorough view of one's substance use history, making it more reliable and harder to tamper with than traditional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Cambria, IL
Hair follicle testing stands out due to its prolonged detection period of up to 90 days. It offers employers a detailed understanding of an individual’s substance history.

This extended detection window is invaluable for employers, allowing them to assess long-term substance use trends, which urine tests cannot offer, as these only detect recent substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Tamper-Resistant Testing in Cambria, IL
Hair follicle tests are designed to significantly minimize the risk of sample tampering, delivering reliable results that withstand scrutiny.

The intrinsic nature of hair follicle tests ensures a more tamper-proof process than urine tests. This aspect makes them a trusted choice for accurate and dependable drug testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations in Cambria, IL
Our extensive network of nationwide testing centers, including those in Cambria, IL, ensures a straightforward and hassle-free testing experience.

With local and national testing locations, accessing these crucial services is quick and effortless, further simplifying the testing process for all parties involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

Confidential and Simple Testing Procedures in Cambria, IL
Our process for hair follicle testing is straightforward and respects privacy, from ordering to receiving results.

By ensuring ease of use and confidentiality, we address common privacy concerns, making the process seamless and worry-free for individuals.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Testing and Quick Turnaround in Cambria, IL
We offer competitive pricing structures, paired with quick turnaround times, ensuring value for companies of all sizes.

Our pricing ensures affordability while delivering efficient results, providing peace of mind and excellent value, a crucial asset for diverse organizational needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Accurate Hair Follicle Testing in Cambria, IL
Known for their precision, hair follicle tests are the go-to choice for quick and reliable substance detection. With high accuracy levels, these tests efficiently identify drug use, giving employers in Cambria, IL, a reliable screening tool.

Hair follicle drug tests promise speedy turnaround times without compromising on accuracy. This makes them an excellent option when prompt and detailed results are required.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensuring Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Cambria, IL
Implementing hair follicle testing aligns with workplace drug-free policies, reinforcing compliance and enhancing safety.

By integrating hair testing, employers reduce legal risks and cultivate a culture of safety, knowing they are utilizing a comprehensive testing method that upholds their policy guidelines.

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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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