Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Cordova, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a significant resource for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. Collected from near the scalp, hair offers up to roughly a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to gather, quite hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, comprising about 200 strands of hair (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a similar amount of body hair might be used. Mention of head hair pertains exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair refers to all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning refers to the initial handling of a sample within a laboratory’s system. It encompasses verifying that the sample was sealed and dispatched appropriately, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other data entry not facilitated by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening constitutes an initial swift evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in court. Samples suspected to be positive in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample be suspected positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the primary specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug screening is the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All suspected positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to tamper with: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Offers historical data: It provides a pattern of drug use over a timeframe, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be more costly than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Aspects like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Cordova, IL significantly surpasses urine tests by providing a superior detection method for drugs. With its extended detection window and accuracy, it's a preferred choice among employers looking for reliable results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing offers a longer drug detection period of up to 90 days in Cordova, IL. This extended window allows employers to have a broader view of an individual's substance use history, beyond what's possible with urine tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the most significant benefits of hair follicle tests in Cordova, IL is their tamper-resistant nature. Unlike other methods, the risk of sample adulteration is greatly minimized, ensuring trustworthy results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With our network of nationwide testing centers, we offer convenient access to drug testing services in Cordova, IL and beyond, ensuring a smooth and easy process for all individuals involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Cordova, IL is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering tests to receiving results, each step ensures the privacy and ease of clients.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Cordova, IL, we offer affordable pricing on hair follicle tests with a quick turnaround time, providing excellent value for companies prioritizing both budget and efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Cordova, IL, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its precision and rapidity. Accuracy in detecting substance use is unparalleled, as tests can trace drug use with impressive speed, yielding results that employers trust.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Cordova, IL gain peace of mind by implementing hair follicle testing, which ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing potential legal challenges and enhancing safety standards.

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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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