Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Congerville, IL

What it is, How it works

Identified as a potent resource, hair testing is recognized for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows, hair records extensive usage history. When sampled near the scalp, it can reveal drug and alcohol presence for a span of roughly three months. Collecting hair is straightforward, altering the sample poses some challenges, and it can be shipped with ease.

A specimen of 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 hair strands, equating to the thickness of a #2 pencil, nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for analysis. For EtG, extras, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. We suggest determining the specimen’s weight using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. Head hair refers solely to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types like facial and axillary.

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for producing a drug test result encompasses four pivotal phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the primary integration of a sample into a lab's framework. It ensures that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any lacking data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody mechanism.

Screening represents the preliminary cursory examination for substance misuse. While it's an efficient method to dismiss drug activity in the bulk of the samples, a triumph in Screening demands affirmation for courtroom validity. Any samples found indicative of positives in Screening necessitate further corroboration.

Upon obtaining a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence the complexity in executing hair drug screening.

Affirmation of any initially positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples identified as presumptive positives undergo a washing process before confirmation if required. The entire laboratory operation from Accessioning through to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation corresponding to ISO / IEC 17025 benchmarks.

Pros of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can trace drug activity for up to 90 days, unlike urine assays which feature a shorter detection span.
• Resistance to tampering: The difficulty in manipulating results ensures greater precision in hair drug testing.
• Retroactive data provision: It uncovers drug usage trends over a timeline, beyond immediate past consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Incapability of detecting recent intake: Drugs become traceable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Higher expense: Hair drug assessments are often pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result discrepancies: Elements like hair hue and personal hair growth variations can influence the concentration of drug residues in the hair.

Note: Typically termed "hair follicle testing", this analysis is concerned with the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Congerville, IL, hair follicle testing outperforms urine tests in drug detection. The benefits of hair testing are evident when compared to traditional urine tests.

• Extended detection time gives a broader view of an individual's drug use.
• Greater accuracy provides reliable outcomes.
• Less risk of manipulation compared to urine samples.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Congerville, IL, offers an extended detection window, tracing substance use up to 90 days.

• This comprehensive testing duration allows employers to assess long-term usage.
• Hair tests reveal consistent patterns of substance abuse.

Such extensive insight is invaluable when evaluating potential hires or current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Congerville, IL, are known for their tamper-resistant nature.

The methodology used significantly reduces the possibility of adulteration, ensuring results are trustworthy.

• Reliable outcomes provide confidence to employers.
• Minimal chances of evasion reinforce the test's integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing locations across the nation, including local sites in Congerville, IL.

• These accessible centers provide swift, uncomplicated service access.
• Whether local or nationwide, our centers ensure a hassle-free experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Congerville, IL, is straightforward and confidential.

• Ordering and receiving results is a simple yet secure process.
• Protecting individual privacy is a priority, fostering trust.

This ease of use enhances the overall testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Congerville, IL, we offer competitive pricing for hair follicle drug tests, complemented by quick turnaround times.

• Our cost-effective solutions accommodate companies of all sizes.
• Fast results deliver excellent value and reduce waiting periods.

This affordability aids employers in making swift, informed decisions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing offers fast, accurate, and reliable results in Congerville, IL. The precision of these tests ensures that substance use is correctly identified.

With advanced technology, hair tests provide high accuracy and quick turnaround times, differentiating them from other testing methods.

• The efficiency of hair tests means results are swiftly returned, ensuring timely decisions.
• The reliability of hair tests in Congerville guarantees effective substance detection.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Congerville, IL, find peace of mind with hair follicle testing due to its compliance with drug-free workplace policies.

• This testing minimizes legal risks by aligning with zero-tolerance standards.
• Enhancing safety, hair testing supports a secure work 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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