Hair Follicle Drug Testing - East Brooklyn, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analyses are increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair stores a long-term record by embedding biomarkers within its strands. When cut close to the scalp, it can reflect substance use over a detection period of up to three months. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to mail.

A sample of 1.5 inches, equivalent to approximately 200 strands (the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, provides 100mg for optimal screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-on tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferred. It is advised to use a jeweler’s scale for precise specimen measurement. If scalp hair is unreachable, body hair in equal measure can be used. "Head hair" pertains exclusively to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The procedure for processing a laboratory drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the initial sample processing within a lab’s system, confirming correct sealing and shipping, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not provided by electronic chain of custody.

Screening entails a preliminary quick drug check. Despite being a cost-effective method for ruling out drug usage in most samples, any positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive in Screening, additional hair from the initial specimen is used for Extraction. Here, drugs are separated from the hair at a much lesser concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening results is undertaken using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleaned as required. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use over a 90-day span, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug test is quite challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals a timeline of drug consumption, beyond merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• High cost: Hair drug tests generally cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although labeled as "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In East Brooklyn, IL, hair follicle testing provides superior benefits over urine tests.

• A significant advantage is its extensive detection period—it can trace substances days beyond a urine test's limit.
• Moreover, hair testing is less susceptible to tampering, offering robust results.
• This makes hair testing ideal for ensuring thorough and reliable substance use checks.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window offered by hair follicle tests is a strong point in East Brooklyn, IL.

• By identifying drug use over a 90-day span, they offer a thorough insight into an individual's substance history.
• This broad timeframe is invaluable for employers who need a comprehensive view of an applicant or employee's substance habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests represent a tamper-resistant method in East Brooklyn, IL.

• The method significantly reduces the chances of adulteration, ensuring the authenticity of the sample.
• This resistance to manipulation provides confidence in the reliability of the test outcomes.
• Such integrity is crucial for credible substance use verification.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our widespread, convenient testing facilities in East Brooklyn, IL, offer a seamless experience.

• With locations nationwide, accessing necessary testing services is straightforward and hassle-free.
• This extensive network ensures that regardless of location, quality testing is always within reach.

Simple, Confidential Process

In East Brooklyn, IL, our hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential.

• Ordering and receiving results is user-friendly, ensuring privacy throughout.
• Clients can feel secure knowing their information is handled with the utmost confidentiality, addressing any concerns about privacy with ease.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, our services in East Brooklyn, IL, deliver exceptional value.

• Our cost-effective structures cater to organizations of any size.
• Prompt results coupled with affordability make our offerings attractive to budget-conscious businesses, ensuring peace of mind alongside excellent service.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in East Brooklyn, IL stand out for their accuracy and swiftness. Their precision in detecting substances is unmatched, surpassing traditional testing methods.
Whether screening for employment or legal reasons, the speedy and reliable nature of hair tests ensures that results are both timely and dependable, offering confidence to both testers and test takers alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in East Brooklyn, IL, hair follicle testing ensures compliance and peace of mind.

• By adhering to drug-free workplace mandates, organizations can minimize legal risks.
• Promoting safety with rigorous drug policies enhances both workplace security and morale.

Drug Testing Near East Brooklyn, IL

Campus, IL

Dwight, IL

Buckingham, IL

Lakewood Shores, IL

Mazon, IL

Carbon Hill, IL

Diamond, IL

Union Hill, IL

Braidwood, IL

Reddick, IL

Godley, IL

Essex, IL

Braceville, IL

Gardner, IL

South Wilmington, 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.

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