Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dolton, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers a long-term record of alcohol and drug exposure by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken from near the scalp, hair can indicate up to a 3-month history for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG add-ons and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It is recommended to use a jeweler’s scale for measuring the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. Note that head hair refers exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning involves the initial introduction of a sample into the laboratory system. This process ensures the sample was sealed and transported correctly, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any additional data not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a preliminary assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective means to discount drug use for most samples, any positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples that show presumptive positivity in Screening require secondary confirmation.

If the Screening stage yields a presumptive positive result, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for further testing. During the Extraction phase, drugs are removed from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods, such as urine or oral fluid tests, making hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screen is done through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS analyses. Any presumptive positive samples are pre-washed as needed before confirmation. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can uncover drug use for a period up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to falsify: It is very hard to manipulate a hair drug test, thus the results tend to be more precise.
• Shows usage history: Hair tests can present a pattern of drug use over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally entail higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Hair tests are frequently called "hair follicle tests", but they actually analyze the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Dolton, IL, hair follicle testing offers substantial benefits over traditional urine tests. The most evident advantage is the ability of hair tests to detect substances over a more extended period, providing a thorough substance use history. This extensiveness makes it superior in revealing patterns rather than momentary use.

The methodology behind hair testing ensures that tampering is highly unlikely, further amplifying credibility. Traditional urine tests may miss prolonged substance use, highlighting the superior accuracy hair testing affords.

Extended Detection Window

One of the primary advantages of hair follicle testing in Dolton, IL, is its ability to reflect drug use over an extended timeframe, up to 90 days. This long detection window offers employers and institutions a comprehensive view beyond the recent days, capturing prolonged substance patterns.

Employers can rely on this extensive window to make informed decisions, having a complete perspective on an applicant or employee’s substance use history, rather than the brief snapshot urine tests provide.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests adds a significant layer of assurance in Dolton, IL. Unlike urine tests, hair specimens are hard to adulterate, minimizing the risk of false results. Collectors monitor the process directly, ensuring authenticity and integrity of the sample.

This reliability makes hair follicle tests particularly valued in scenarios demanding maximum accuracy and minimal interference, paving the way for unquestionable findings and peace of mind.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Dolton, IL, enjoys the convenience of Accredited Drug Testing's wide network of centers nationwide. These strategically situated locations provide easy and swift access to comprehensive drug testing services, ensuring minimal disruption in scheduling.

This extensive reach guarantees efficient service regardless of location, offering a seamless experience for individuals and businesses seeking reliable testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Dolton, IL, the hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential. From ordering the test online to collection and receiving results, every step safeguards personal privacy, with user-friendly procedures.

This emphasis on confidentiality and simplicity alleviates privacy concerns, enabling users to engage in the drug testing process seamlessly and with confidence, knowing their data is secure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Dolton, IL, offers competitively priced hair follicle testing with rapid results, ensuring excellent value for organizations. Quick turnaround times mean companies can make decisions promptly without compromising quality.

Affordable options make this advanced testing method accessible to businesses of all sizes, maintaining quality service within budgetary constraints and fostering trust through cost-effective solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle tests in Dolton, IL deliver results both swiftly and accurately. The precision of these tests allows for the reliable detection of various substances over time. By using hair specimens, testing is less likely to be affected by short-term abstinence, ensuring that results are consistent and dependable.

Accurate outcomes are paramount, and the quick turnaround time of results aids employers and individuals who need timely information. Speed and precision are the dual strengths making hair follicle drug testing highly valued in Dolton.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Dolton, IL, experience enhanced compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. These tests align with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks and reinforcing a safe work environment.

With long detection periods and tamper-proof methods, hair testing discourages substance abuse, further supporting the establishment of secure and compliant workspaces. Implementing this can lead to reliable operations devoid of drugs.

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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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