Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Forest View, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By embedding biomarkers in the fibers of the growing hair strand, hair records a long-term history of substance use. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to 3 months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is easy, tampering is challenging, and it is straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (about the size of a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the ideal sample size for screenings and confirmations. For EtG enhancements, and/or screenings exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. It's recommended to use a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. References to head hair imply scalp hair only, while body hair includes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results includes four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of integrating a sample into a laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any necessary data entry not available from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid test for the presence of drugs. It's a cost-effective method to eliminate drug use in the majority of samples, but a positive result must be confirmed for court admissibility. Presumptive positives in Screening require secondary confirmation.

When a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for preparation in the Extraction phase. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening especially challenging.

Confirmation of a positive screening result uses GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed prior to confirmation as required. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter window.
• Hard to falsify: Hair drug tests are challenging to cheat, ensuring more reliable results.
• Provides usage history: They provide a trend of drug use over time, not merely recent activity.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing is generally costlier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the scalp's hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing stands out in Forest View, IL, for its superior accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. The method provides more reliable detection of substances, making it an invaluable tool for employers and legal entities alike.

Unlike standard urine tests, hair follicle analysis offers a longer detection period, capturing up to 90 days of substance usage history. This allows for a more comprehensive assessment of an individual's substance habits in Forest View, IL.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Forest View, IL, benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle tests, which track substance use over an impressive period of up to 90 days. This thorough temporal coverage provides a comprehensive view of an individual’s drug history.

With such a long-range detection capability, hair testing enables decisions that account for consistent behavioral patterns, crucial for maintaining workplace integrity and trust in Forest View, IL.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Forest View, IL, significantly reduces the risk of sample adulteration, providing robust and unquestionable results. The nature of this testing method ensures sample integrity.

In Forest View, IL, tamper-proof collection and analysis methodologies foster confident reliance on results, beneficial for settings where accuracy is paramount, such as legal and corporate environments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Forest View, IL, our nationwide network of testing centers ensures that drug testing is convenient and accessible. Local availability across key cities makes the process seamless.

With numerous testing centers, including those in Forest View, IL, accessing our services is hassle-free, proving advantageous for both individuals and businesses seeking reliable drug testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Forest View, IL, is designed for simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering to receiving results, the straightforward steps ensure ease and privacy.

Confidential handling of samples and results in Forest View, IL, reassures individuals and companies, fostering trust and discretion throughout the testing process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our pricing in Forest View, IL, is competitive, ensuring that hair follicle testing is accessible to companies of all sizes without compromising quality or speed of service.

Fast turnaround times paired with reasonable costs in Forest View, IL, make hair testing an appealing solution for businesses seeking efficient and budget-friendly drug screening options.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Forest View, IL, make them a superior choice for substance detection. With advanced methodologies, these tests offer unparalleled accuracy in identifying drug use, eliminating doubts about the reliability of results.

In Forest View, IL, hair follicle testing provides rapid outcomes, ensuring timely decisions needed in professional settings. Employers value the confidence gained from quick and trustworthy results, streamlining the hiring and review processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing supports Forest View, IL, employers in achieving compliance with stringent drug-free workplace policies, reducing potential legal liabilities and enhancing overall safety.

Employers in Forest View, IL, find peace of mind through the use of hair testing, ensuring a drug-free environment and protecting organizational reputation and integrity.

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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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