Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Chrisman, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective method for detecting the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair serves as a long-term recorder of drug and alcohol use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. If hair is collected near the scalp, it can offer a detection window of up to nearly 3 months for both alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to collect, quite resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch piece of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg sample is suggested. We advise measuring the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable quantity of body hair may be gathered. When we mention head hair, we solely refer to scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a specimen into the laboratory's system. This step includes verifying that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary check for the presence of drugs. Screening is a cost-effective approach to eliminate drug usage in most cases, but a positive result in Screening requires confirmation for it to be legally defensible. Any presumptive positive samples in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

If a specimen tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, more hair is taken from the initial collection and prepared for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at a notably lower concentration than through other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.

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

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing the accuracy of the outcomes.
• Provides historical data: It unveils a pattern of drug consumption over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs require about 5-7 days to appear in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Variations in results: Variables such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests," the examination actually analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Compared to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing in Chrisman, IL, offers significant advantages in drug detection. The superior accuracy of hair testing makes it a compelling choice for those who need reliable results.

While urine tests are easier to compromise, hair tests provide a tamper-resistant solution with a longer detection window. This ensures a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance use history, thereby enhancing trust in the testing process.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Chrisman, IL, excels in its ability to detect drug use over an extended period, reaching up to 90 days. This feature offers a detailed overview of an individual’s substance use history.

Employers benefit as they gain a long-term view of an applicant or employee's drug habits. This extensive window is essential for enforcing drug-free workplace policies effectively and ensuring ongoing compliance with company standards.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Chrisman, IL, hair follicle tests are notably tamper-resistant, minimizing risks of sample manipulation. This feature ensures that results are reliable and trustworthy for all stakeholders involved.

The difficulty in adulterating hair samples gives employers and legal entities confidence in their decision-making. The integrity of the collected sample is maintained throughout the testing process, leading to factual and undisputed outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Offering convenient testing locations in Chrisman, IL, and across the nation, our centers ensure access to drug testing services is both quick and hassle-free. This national reach supports client needs efficiently.

The availability of local sites makes drug testing simple for employers and individuals, providing seamless service without the inconvenience of traveling long distances, thereby facilitating timely and efficient test completion.

Simple, Confidential Process

The drug testing process in Chrisman, IL, is straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy concerns effectively. This ease of use is evident from ordering to receiving results.

Our procedure ensures that individuals can undergo testing without worry about privacy breaches. This serves to reassure and simplify the entire process, providing a smooth and discreet experience for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Chrisman, IL, Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and quick turnaround for hair follicle tests. This combination provides excellent value for businesses of any size.

Our affordable pricing structures are designed to meet the needs of all companies, and the fast results delivery gives clients peace of mind. This ensures that businesses can proceed with decision-making without delay.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Chrisman, IL, hair follicle drug tests stand out due to their precision and swift results. The outstanding accuracy in substance detection ensures that individuals are evaluated thoroughly, making it a preferred choice.

These tests deliver fast and dependable results, often within a few days. Their superior accuracy surpasses traditional methods, ensuring that the detection of drug use is both reliable and timely for employers and individuals alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

By employing hair follicle testing in Chrisman, IL, employers streamline compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This not only mitigates legal risks but also enhances overall workplace safety.

Companies adopting hair testing enjoy peace of mind, knowing they are reinforcing a drug-free environment. The compliance certainty afforded by hair analysis helps maintain a secure and productive workspace for all employees.

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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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