Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Chemung, IL

What it is, How it works

Viewpoints on hair testing have evolved, recognizing it as an impactful method for identifying substance use. Hair offers a detailed history of drug and alcohol use, capturing biomarkers in the extending fibers of hair strands. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal consumption over a period of up to about three months for alcohol and other substances. Its collection is straightforward, modifying it is challenging, and it is convenient for shipping.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, an optimal sample size for screening and confirming results. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advisable to gather 150mg of the specimen. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for measurement is recommended. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, a similar volume of body hair may be collected. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair, on the other hand, encompasses all other types of hair (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The primary steps in the lab processing of drug test findings include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the initial phase comprises integrating a sample into a lab’s system. This process ensures the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any supplementary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening serves as a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient strategy to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for court validity. Samples preliminarily positive in Screening require subsequent confirmation.

Presumptively positive samples in the Screening phase necessitate drawing additional hair from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are drawn out from hair at significantly lower concentrations than with other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening the most complex method to perform.

The Confirmation process employs GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS for verifying any positive screening outcomes. All samples likely to be positive undergo cleaning before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and in line with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Hair drug testing benefits:

• Prolonged detection span: Hair drug testing can indicate drug use up to 90 days, a longer window than urine tests.
• Increased reliability: Cheating on a hair drug test is quite hard, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical usage insight: It can reveal usage patterns over time, rather than just recent activity.

Drawbacks:

• Recent use detection limitation: It requires roughly 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests", the focus is on analyzing the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Chemung, IL, has clear advantages over urine tests. Superior detection accuracy makes hair testing more reliable. Unlike urine, which only captures recent use, hair tests can reveal a longer history of substance use. This extended detection period provides a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's drug use.

Extended Detection Window

The ability of hair follicle testing in Chemung, IL, to detect drug use for up to 90 days is a standout feature. This extensive detection window offers employers valuable insights into an individual's history of drug use, beyond what a standard urine test can provide. Such a broad timeframe is invaluable for understanding long-term behavior patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Chemung, IL, offer a tamper-resistant testing method. These tests are far less susceptible to sample adulteration compared to traditional methods.
The integrity of the collection process significantly reduces the chances of tampering, ensuring that results are credible and trustworthy, giving peace of mind to employers and individuals alike.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Finding convenient testing locations is effortless with our nationwide centers, including Chemung, IL. Offering easy accessible services,
these facilities ensure a quick and hassle-free testing process, allowing individuals and businesses to access tests without travel inconveniences. Local availability is a significant factor in streamlining the testing process.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Chemung, IL, is straightforward and confidential. From ordering the test to obtaining results, the entire process emphasizes ease and privacy.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing services in Chemung, IL, offer affordable pricing alongside fast turnaround times. Cost-effective solutions meet the demands of companies large and small. The rapid process keeps waiting periods minimal, providing value while ensuring that results are swiftly delivered, helping employers make timely decisions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Chemung, IL, hair follicle testing is fast, accurate, and reliable. Its precision in identifying substance use far outshines traditional methods, providing highly reliable results. The speed at which results are processed ensures that individuals and employers receive the information they need quickly.
These tests offer unparalleled accuracy in detecting a wide range of drugs, ensuring confidence in the results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Chemung, IL, hair follicle testing brings compliance and peace of mind. By aligning with drug-free workplace policies, hair testing minimizes legal risks associated with illicit substance use. Workplace safety is enhanced as the reliability of hair analysis prevents mishaps associated with substance-induced impairments.

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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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