Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Columbia, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. When obtained near the scalp, hair can present a detection period of up to about 3 months for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect hair, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising nearly 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, optimal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is advisable. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent volume of body hair can be utilized. When we mention head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The core steps in the laboratory treatment of a drug test result comprise Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This incorporates confirming the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial fast check for substances of abuse. Despite Screening being a cost-efficient strategy to negate drug consumption in most samples, a positive screen requires validation to be valid in court. Any samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate secondary verification.

If a sample indicates presumptive positivity in the Screening phase, more hair is taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly reduced concentrations compared to other approaches (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening poses the most significant methodological challenges.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positivity are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a more limited detection timeframe.
• Hard to deceive: It is incredibly challenging to deceive a hair drug test, resulting in more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insights: It can unveil a pattern of drug use over a timeframe, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Aspects like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: While frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the assessment examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Outperforms Urine Testing in Columbia, IL
Hair follicle tests offer superior drug detection abilities against traditional urine tests. These tests have an extended detection window, capturing substance use with greater accuracy and reliability. Employers and professionals rely on them for a comprehensive understanding of an individual's drug use.

Extended Detection Window

In Columbia, IL, hair follicle testing offers a uniquely extended detection window, providing insights into drug use over a period of up to 90 days. For employers, this means gaining a thorough understanding of an employee or candidate's substance use history. This extended period ensures a comprehensive view that cannot be matched by other methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure and Unquestionable Hair Follicle Testing in Columbia, IL
Hair follicle testing is renowned for its resistance to tampering. The method limits opportunities for sample adulteration, ensuring reliability and authenticity. This aspect is crucial in environments where maintaining integrity and trust in the results is paramount.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key in Columbia, IL, with numerous testing locations available nationwide through Accredited Drug Testing. This means quick, hassle-free access for all, ensuring that testing requirements are met efficiently. Local centers provide easy accessibility for individuals, making the entire testing process simple and streamlined.

Simple, Confidential Process

Effortless and Confidential Testing Process in Columbia, IL
Experience a straightforward and confidential process for ordering, performing, and receiving hair follicle testing results. Privacy is respected throughout, alleviating concerns about the security and simplicity of the entire experience. These attributes ensure peace of mind for all parties involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With an eye on cost-efficiency, Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable options for quick and reliable hair follicle tests in Columbia, IL. Competitive pricing, coupled with rapid turnaround times, provides exceptional value for businesses of all sizes, ensuring financial practicality without compromising on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The efficiency and accuracy of hair follicle drug tests highlight their role in reliable substance detection in Columbia, IL. Speed and precision are crucial, as these tests quickly identify drug use with an unmatched level of accuracy. This makes them ideal for scenarios where time and accuracy matter most, providing trustworthy results for employers and other stakeholders.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Columbia, IL benefit from the compliance and peace of mind that hair follicle testing provides. By supporting drug-free workplace policies, this method reduces legal risks and enhances overall workplace safety. Employers gain confidence knowing they are fostering a secure, compliant environment.

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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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