Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Emington, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol use. By capturing biomarkers in the strands of growing hair, it offers a long-term overview of substance use. When collected near the scalp, hair testing can deliver a detection window of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. It's easy to gather, tough to tamper with, and convenient to ship.

A 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and anything beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. We advise measuring the hair sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't an option, the same quantity of body hair can be taken. When we mention head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory’s records. This step includes ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and delivered, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplemental data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. Although it’s a cost-efficient way to exclude drug use in many samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for legal acceptance. Samples with a presumptive positive in Screening need a subsequent confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies to execute.

Any positive screening result undergoes Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before Confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleaned as needed. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning through to Confirmation is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation while also adhering to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can recognize drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to falsify: Hair drug testing is difficult to compromise, ensuring more reliable results.
• Historical substance use data: It illustrates a pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Limited recent usage detection: Drugs become detectable in hair around 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests often cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the test analyzes the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Emington, IL reveals several advantages.

• Hair tests detect a wider range of substances for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests.
• The reliability in terms of accuracy and lesser chances of tampering makes them favorable.
• Employers and legal systems depend on hair testing for better assurance against illicit drug use.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Emington, IL is a defining feature of hair follicle tests.

• These tests identify substance use over a broad timeframe, extending up to 90 days.
• This extended window helps employers understand an individual's drug history comprehensively.
• Such comprehensive insights aid in making informed decisions about hiring or continued employment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Emington, IL offers significant security against contamination.

• Hair follicle tests reduce the opportunity for adulteration, ensuring results remain unquestionable.
• The rigorous collection procedures minimize the possibility of interference.
• This reliability builds trust in the test results, supporting their growing use in sensitive scenarios.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Emington, IL promote ease of use.

• Our extensive network ensures swift and hassle-free testing access anywhere needed.
• Local centers facilitate timely appointments, reducing inconvenience and downtime.
• Employers and individuals can effortlessly reach our testing services across different areas.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Emington, IL emphasizes privacy and convenience.

• Ordering, taking, and receiving results are streamlined to protect individual privacy.
• The process is designed to be straightforward, alleviating concerns over complexity.
• Confidentiality is at the heart of our operations, ensuring peace of mind for all clients.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Emington, IL remain cornerstones of our service model.

• Cost-effective pricing structures enhance value for organizations of all sizes.
• Swift delivery of results ensures decision-making is neither delayed nor hampered.
• Competitive pricing aligns with our goal of providing equitable access to quality testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Emington, IL underscore the superior capability of hair follicle drug tests.

• High precision and swiftness in detecting drug use make these tests invaluable.
• With substantial accuracy, they provide trusted insights into substance history.
• Local facilities ensure quick and efficient processing, minimizing waiting times.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Emington, IL focuses on regulations adherence.

• Hair follicle tests bolster compliance with strict workplace drug policies.
• Such adherence reduces potential legal exposure and promotes a safer work environment.
• Employers gain confidence in their workforce's commitment to maintaining a drug-free setting.

Drug Testing Near Emington, IL

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Campus, 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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