Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Fieldon, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can capture a long-term record of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can reveal up to roughly a 3-month evidence window for drugs or alcohol. Hair is easy to gather, relatively tough to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample of about 1.5 inches or 200 strands of hair (similar in thickness to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the optimal amount for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is advised. If scalp hair is not present, a comparable volume of body hair may be used. Scalp hair, in this context, refers solely to head hair. Body hair includes all other forms of hair (such as facial or underarm hair).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary handling of a sample in a lab's system. This involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is cost-efficient for dismissing drug use in most cases, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal credibility. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is collected from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging technique to execute.

Positive results identified during Screening undergo Confirmation through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation as needed. The comprehensive laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation of ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can detect substances for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter timeframe.
• Resistance to tampering: It is highly difficult to manipulate a hair drug test, enhancing result reliability.
• Assesses historical use: It provides a pattern of drug usage over time, rather than only recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent intake: Drugs typically require 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be costlier than other drug-testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: These tests are often called "hair follicle tests", but they analyze the hair strand itself, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Fieldon, IL, hair follicle testing often outshines urine tests due to its superior accuracy and reliability in detecting drug use. While urine tests can identify recent usage, hair testing provides a detailed account of long-term substance use, making it highly desirable for employers seeking accurate insights.

Unlike urine tests, hair follicle analysis captures a broader scope of drug use history, thus securing a more reliable overview. This comprehensive coverage is particularly beneficial for employers in Fieldon and nationwide who aim to maintain a drug-free environment with certainty.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Fieldon, IL greatly benefit from hair follicle testing due to its extended detection window for drug use—up to 90 days. This allows them a thorough understanding of an individual's substance use over most of a quarter, providing insights beyond recent habits.

This prolonged detection period empowers Fieldon employers to make informed decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of an applicant's or employee's drug history, enhancing workplace safety and integrity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing provides a tamper-resistant method for drug detection, reducing the risk of sample manipulation in Fieldon, IL. Its collection and analysis methods make it practically impossible for individuals to alter results.

This reliable approach ensures that employers and other entities in Fieldon obtain unquestionable results, allowing them to confidently enforce drug-free policies without fear of false readings due to sample tampering.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient access with numerous nationwide centers, including local sites in Fieldon, IL. This network simplifies the testing process, enabling quick and effortless test scheduling for individuals and firms.

Fieldon's local centers provide a seamless experience, ensuring timely and accessible drug testing services that cater to employers' need for efficient screening without logistical hassles.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Fieldon, IL is designed to be straightforward and confidential. Ordering a test is simple, and the procedure is conducted with privacy in mind, ensuring discretion at each stage.

Results delivery is confidential, addressing privacy concerns effectively. Employers and individuals benefit from a user-friendly experience that maintains dignity and assurance of data protection throughout the testing lifecycle.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Hair follicle testing in Fieldon, IL is competitively priced, ensuring companies of varying sizes can manage costs without compromising on quality. Affordable pricing paired with swift turnaround times offers great value.

Organizations benefit from fast result processing, reinforcing decision-making capabilities while enjoying cost-effective testing solutions that support maintaining a safe and compliant work environment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Fieldon, IL, hair follicle drug testing is known for its speed and accuracy, allowing for efficient detection of substance use. Results are processed promptly, ensuring that employers receive timely information regarding potential hires or employees involved in drug use.

Hair follicle tests offer an impeccable level of precision in identifying drug presence, minimizing the risk of false positives or negatives. This accuracy is instrumental for organizations in maintaining adherence to workplace policies and regulations.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Fieldon, IL employers, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies is straightforward with hair follicle testing. This method mitigates legal risks and contributes to a safer working environment by accurately identifying drug users.

Adopting hair testing helps employers align with industry standards and regulations. It provides peace of mind, knowing they are implementing a reliable solution that supports a drug-free workplace.

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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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