Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Deer Park, IL

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair testing has become recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair naturally archives a prolonged history of alcohol and drug involvement by entrapping biomarkers within the strands as they develop. When sourced close to the scalp, hair can offer roughly a 3-month detection timeframe for detecting alcohol and drug use. Hair sampling is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient for mailing.

A 1.5-inch collection of roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred quantity for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, extra tests, or analyses exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If head hair isn't available, an equivalent volume of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal phases in processing a drug test outcome in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary handling of a sample within a lab’s system. This involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial, rapid evaluation for illicit drug use. While Screening is an economical method for dismissing drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for judicial use. Samples suspected to be positive during Screening necessitate further confirmation.

When a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is obtained from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are withdrawn from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumed positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug tests can recognize drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which cover a shorter timeframe.
• Challenging to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, ensuring more reliable results.
• Historical insight: It provides an overview of drug habits over time, not just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: A period of approximately 5-7 days is required before drugs become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be costlier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Deer Park, IL excels over traditional urine testing in several ways. Detection accuracy and reliability are vastly superior in hair tests compared to urine tests.

• Employers find hair tests offer comprehensive substance history, bolstering zero-tolerance policies.
• The extended detection window provides a clearer view, often up to 90 days, compared to urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

At Deer Park, IL, hair follicle testing is valued for its extended detection window, capturing drug use over 90 days.

• A broad detection range allows employers to monitor potential substance use over extended periods.
• This comprehensive approach aids in making informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Deer Park, IL offers a tamper-resistant and trustworthy method, minimizing risks of sample adulteration.

• This technique significantly reduces the chance of cheating or tampering with the sample.
• By ensuring results are authentic and reliable, businesses can make confident decisions.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient nationwide testing locations including local centers in Deer Park, IL.

• Our accessible testing facilities make scheduling and completing tests straightforward.
• With extensive locations, receiving services is hassle-free and efficient.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Deer Park, IL, our testing process is simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns effectively.

• The procedure for ordering and receiving hair test results is streamlined for ease of use.
• We prioritize confidentiality to build trust and ensure discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing provides affordable pricing and fast turnaround in Deer Park, IL.

• Competitive pricing structures offer excellent value for businesses of various sizes.
• Quick processing times provide rapid access to necessary results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Deer Park, IL, hair follicle drug testing stands out for delivering fast, accurate, and reliable results. This method ensures quick detection of substance use with a significant level of precision.

• The accuracy of hair testing offers a clear advantage, capturing substance history efficiently.
• Its reliability elevates trust in the results, aligning with high testing standards.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Deer Park, IL, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, enhancing safety.

• It reduces legal risks associated with drug use in the workplace.
• This testing method supports peace of mind by aligning with drug-free initiatives.

Drug Testing Near Deer Park, IL

Long Grove, IL

Palatine, IL

Hawthorn Woods, IL

Inverness, IL

North Barrington, IL

Barrington, IL

Lake Zurich, IL

Kildeer, IL

Barrington Woods, IL

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews