Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Curran, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair examination has become acknowledged as an effective resource for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair provides a prolonged history of alcohol and other substances by encasing biomarkers in the fibers of the hair strand's growth. Collecting hair close to the scalp offers up to roughly a 3-month range for detecting alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, moderately challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is recommended. It is suggested to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unobtainable, a comparable quantity of body hair may be collected. When referring to head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the laboratory analysis of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This involves confirmation that the sample was sealed and dispatched properly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening represents a preliminary rapid assessment for illegal drugs. Although Screening provides a cost-effective means to negate drug usage in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for admissibility in legal contexts. Any samples presumptively positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

If a sample is presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and processed for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to alternative methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate method to execute.

Validation of a positive screening result is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumptively positive are washed before confirmation as needed. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can discover drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests, which possess a more limited detection period.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Provides historical insight: It reveals a pattern of drug usage over a duration, beyond just recent usage.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Detection of drugs in hair takes approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are generally more costly than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth patterns can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the examination is of the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Curran, IL, hair follicle testing stands out due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability over traditional urine tests. While urine tests detect recent substance use effectively, hair tests offer a broader insight by tracing drug usage history, enhancing their appeal for comprehensive evaluations.

Extended Detection Window

In Curran, IL, hair follicle testing provides a significant advantage with its ability to detect drug use over a period extending up to 90 days. This extended detection window offers employers an insightful look into an individual's substance use history, far beyond what urine tests can reveal.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Curran, IL, are renowned for their tamper-resistant nature, significantly reducing the possibility of sample adulteration. This reliability assures trustworthy results, minimizing doubts about their authenticity and bolstering confidence in their outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Curran, IL, the convenience of nationwide testing centers is unmatched, providing quick and hassle-free access to services. This network of locations simplifies the testing process, ensuring that individuals can easily reach a center, no matter where they are situated.

Simple, Confidential Process

Curran, IL, benefits from a straightforward and confidential hair testing process. Concerns about privacy are addressed with a secure method of ordering, testing, and receiving results, ensuring a seamless experience for all individuals involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Curran, IL, the combination of affordable pricing and fast turnaround makes hair follicle testing an attractive option. Companies of various sizes can appreciate the value offered, receiving dependable results swiftly without compromising budget constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Curran, IL, set them apart, ensuring accurate substance detection. With a focus on delivering fast and dependable results, these tests minimize any false interpretations, making them a preferred option for in-depth drug analysis.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Curran, IL, gain peace of mind with hair follicle testing, ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies. These tests mitigate legal risks and promote a safer working environment, reinforcing the importance of adhering to zero-tolerance substance use 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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