Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Crab Orchard, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term biomarker evidence of alcohol and drug use within the fibers of the growing hair shaft. When taken near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. It is straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch hair sample of approximately 200 strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for both screening and validation. For EtG, additional panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be collected. When we mention head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other hair types (facial, armpit, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial processing into a lab’s system, which includes verifying the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a preliminary swift evaluation for substance abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly method to dismiss drug consumption in most samples, a positive result requires further confirmation to be legally admissible. All samples that are suspected positives in Screening necessitate additional confirmation.

When a sample appears presumptively positive in the Screening phase, more hair is taken from the primary sample to prepare for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to alternative methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result occurs using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are suspected positives are cleaned before confirmation as needed. The complete laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and certification to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection duration: Hair drug tests can indicate drug use for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests, which have a more limited detection period.
• Difficult to manipulate: Hair drug tests are extremely difficult to falsify, ensuring more precise results.
• Gives historical insights: It can indicate a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: It generally takes about 5-7 days for drugs to be detectable in hair.
• Costly: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the test actually assesses the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Crab Orchard, IL, the benefits of hair testing over urine tests are evident. Hair tests offer a longer detection period and are more difficult to falsify. Unlike urine tests, hair testing delivers superior detection accuracy and reliability for chronic substance use, providing employers with a comprehensive history of an individual's drug use.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window

In Crab Orchard, IL, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection period, up to 90 days. This allows employers to gain thorough insights into an applicant or employee’s substance history, offering a wider window for assessing long-term drug use patterns compared to other methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing minimizes the risk of sample tampering, offering reliable and indubitable results in Crab Orchard, IL. The collection process is observed and significantly reduces the likelihood of adulteration, providing peace of mind for employers concerned about the integrity of test samples.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations

Our wide network of nationwide testing centers, including those in Crab Orchard, IL, guarantees easy and hassle-free access to necessary testing services. This convenience ensures quick service provision across numerous locations, suiting both local needs and broader organizational requirements.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process

Accredited Drug Testing offers a straightforward and confidential process in Crab Orchard, IL, for ordering, conducting, and receiving hair test results. This streamlined approach addresses any privacy concerns and enhances user experience, ensuring that testing is simple and secure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround

In Crab Orchard, IL, we provide competitive pricing and fast processing times for hair follicle testing. Our efficient service structure ensures an excellent balance between cost and speed, offering companies of any size great value without compromising on the quality or promptness of results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests provide precise and swift outcomes, making them highly reliable for detecting substance consumption in Crab Orchard, IL. Their accuracy surpasses traditional methods, ensuring that results are trustworthy and immediate, thus aligning with the needs of employers requiring quick and accurate drug testing solutions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Crab Orchard, IL can ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies through hair follicle testing. This method reduces legal risks and strengthens workplace safety, providing employers with the assurance that drug use policies are being adhered to effectively.

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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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