Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cobden, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a crucial tool for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection window of up to around 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to alter, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, a similar amount of body hair might be collected. When head hair is mentioned, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary steps in laboratory processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial procedure of processing a sample into a lab’s system. This encompasses checking that the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and doing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial rapid check for drugs of abuse. While it’s a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive screen needs confirmation to be valid in a legal setting. Any samples that presumptively test positive in Screening demand a subsequent confirmation.

In the event of a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that presumptively test positive are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The full lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can indicate drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests possess a shorter detection window.
• Challenge to deceive: It’s very challenging to deceive a hair drug test, hence making the results more precise.
• Provides historical data: It can indicate a trend of drug use over time, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than alternative drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Cobden, IL, hair follicle testing offers distinct advantages over urine tests. Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing is clear with its superior detection accuracy and reliability.

While urine tests are more traditional, hair testing provides a much longer detection period, making it a more comprehensive option.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Cobden, IL, provide an Extended Detection Window that can reveal drug use for up to 90 days.

This extended window offers employers a thorough view of an individual's drug history, providing insights beyond the limitations of other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

With hair follicle testing in Cobden, IL, the risk of sample tampering is significantly reduced. Tamper-Resistant Testing Method emphasizes the reliability of these tests.

They provide assurance with results that are resistant to manipulation, ensuring trustworthy outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations, Cobden, IL residents benefit from easy access to our services.

Whether locally or nationwide, our centers provide quick and hassle-free testing options, ensuring community-wide availability.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Cobden, IL is Simple and Confidential, ensuring privacy at every step.

From ordering to results, the process is secure and straightforward, addressing any concerns related to confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Cobden, IL, our hair testing services offer Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround times.

We ensure competitive pricing and quick results, providing outstanding value and assurance for businesses of varying sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cobden, IL, hair follicle testing is known for its speed and precision. Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results are achieved through advanced technology, offering superior accuracy in identifying substance use.

This method ensures results that employers can trust. Its ability to detect a wide range of substances with high accuracy makes it a preferred choice.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Cobden, IL ensures Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers. This method aligns with drug-free workplace policies.

By reducing legal risks and enhancing workplace safety, hair testing offers businesses a robust solution for maintaining compliance.

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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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