Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Chesterfield, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means to detect drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a historical record of these substances by embedding biomarkers in the keratin fibers of hair as it grows. When cut close to the scalp, a hair sample can reflect substance use over an approximately three-month span. Hair collection is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 strands from the scalp (roughly equivalent to a #2 pencil's thickness) will provide 100mg, which is the optimal quantity for analysis and verification. For tests involving EtG, additional requirements, or more than 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is preferred. We recommend assessing the sample weight using a jeweler's scale. If head hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair can be collected. Head hair specifically refers to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step where a sample enters the laboratory system. This step involves checking that the sample is sealed and transported correctly, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening entails a preliminary test for potential drug use. While it's a cost-efficient method to exclude drug presence for most samples, any positive result from Screening must be confirmed for legal acceptability. Samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening proceed to a subsequent verification step.

A presumptively positive Screening result leads to additional hair being prepared from the original sample for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are removed from hair at a much lower concentration than via other techniques (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The complete process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under the guidelines of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can reveal drug intake for up to 90 days, in contrast to the shorter detection period of urine tests.
• Difficult to falsify: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing result fidelity.
• Offers historical insight: It can outline a drug use pattern over time, not only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect very recent use: There is a lag of about 5-7 days before drugs can be identified in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing generally incurs higher costs than other drug test methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair shaft, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Chesterfield, IL, offers several advantages over urine tests. Its superior detection capabilities and reliability make it a preferred choice. With a longer detection window, hair tests provide more comprehensive substance use insights, while urine tests excel in very recent use detection.

• Longer detection window
• More reliable than traditional urine tests
• Preferred by employers and legal entities

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Chesterfield, IL, benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle tests, which provide a detailed view of an individual's drug use history over 90 days. This broader timeframe aids in making informed decisions about employees or candidates.

• Up to 90-day detection period
• Comprehensive substance history
• Essential for informed hiring and retention

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

An undeniable advantage of hair follicle testing in Chesterfield, IL, is its resistance to tampering. Unlike other methods, hair samples cannot be easily adulterated, granting employers confidence in the authenticity and integrity of test results.

• Reduces risk of sample adulteration
• Increases reliability of results
• Ensures testing integrity

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing centers are conveniently located nationwide, including Chesterfield, IL, providing accessible and seamless drug testing solutions. This network ensures participants have quick and hassle-free access to necessary services right when they need them.

• Convenient national coverage
• Easy access to testing facilities
• Efficient testing process

Simple, Confidential Process

In Chesterfield, IL, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. Clients can easily order tests, participate, and receive results without compromising privacy. This straightforward process ensures a stress-free experience.

• Confidential testing process
• Simple ordering and results delivery
• Privacy assured

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing structures and rapid turnaround times in Chesterfield, IL, our hair follicle testing services provide excellent value. This balance of cost-effectiveness and promptness makes our offerings appealing to businesses of any size.

• Competitive pricing
• Swift turnaround times
• Cost-effective testing solutions

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Chesterfield, IL, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its speed and precision. With unrivalled accuracy in detecting substance use, it ensures swift and dependable results that can be trusted by employers and organizations alike.

• Quick result processing
• High accuracy in detection
• Reliable information on substance use

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Chesterfield, IL, employers find peace of mind through hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free policies. This compliance not only minimizes legal exposure but also fortifies workplace safety, creating a secure and productive environment.

• Ensures workplace policy compliance
• Reduces legal risks
• Enhances workplace 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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