Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Carrier Mills, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term indicators of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. When taken from near the scalp, hair can reveal up to about a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. It's straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (around the width of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg, creating an optimal sample for both screening and verification. For EtG, extras, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weight of 150mg is advised. For precision, weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't an option, a comparable quantity of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" pertains solely to scalp hair. "Body hair" denotes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the lab analysis of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially processed into a laboratory’s database. This involves checking that it was sealed and transported properly, generating a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any extra data not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a budget-friendly approach to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be permissible in legal settings. Samples that yield a presumptive positive in Screening require subsequent confirmation.

If a sample signals a presumptive positive during Screening, further hair is removed from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), marking hair drug screening as the most intricate method to execute.

Confirmation of positive screening outcomes is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples with presumptive positives are washed prior to confirmation when necessary. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection range: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection range.
• Hard to deceive: It is exceedingly challenging to tamper with a hair drug test, enhancing accuracy in results.
• Shows historical patterns: It can reveal a history of drug use over a duration, rather than only recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to show recent consumption: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to be identifiable in hair.
• Costlier option: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other drug testing techniques.
• Result fluctuations: Variables such as hair color and personal variations in hair growth can impact the presence of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Despite often being termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over urine tests in Carrier Mills, IL. With its extensive detection accuracy and reliability, it presents a superior alternative for drug testing.

• Longer detection window
• More reliable results
• Minimal risk of tampering

Extended Detection Window

In Carrier Mills, IL, hair follicle tests offer an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This gives employers a detailed view of an individual's substance history,
allowing for more informed hiring and employee assessments.

• Comprehensive history
• In-depth analysis
• Up to 90 days of detection

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Carrier Mills, IL, hair follicle tests are known for their tamper-resistant characteristics. These tests drastically lower the chances of sample adulteration, ensuring credible and unquestionable findings.

• Reduced tampering risk
• Consistent results
• Unquestionable reliability

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient testing locations across the nation, including Carrier Mills, IL, provide hassle-free access to services. This accessibility ensures that testing is quick and easy.

• Nationwide access
• Convenient locations
• Local testing centers

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle tests in Carrier Mills, IL, is simple and confidential. From ordering to results, our approach safeguards privacy and offers convenience.

• Easy ordering
• Confidential results
• User-friendly process

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Carrier Mills, IL, our hair follicle testing offers competitive pricing without compromising speed or quality. This approach assures excellently valued services for businesses of any size.

• Competitive pricing
• Fast turnaround
• High value for companies

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug tests in Carrier Mills, IL, are unparalleled. These tests provide accurate insights into substance use, delivering fast, dependable results that ensure you're informed and compliant.

• High accuracy
• Quick results
• Reliable detection

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Carrier Mills, IL, enjoy peace of mind with hair follicle testing. It guarantees compliance with drug-free workplace policies, curbing legal risks and bolstering safety.

• Ensures compliance
• Reduces legal issues
• Enhances safety

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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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