Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Forsyth, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It captures a long-term record of substances through biomarkers trapped in hair fibers as they grow. When taken close to the scalp, it can provide a detection window of up to roughly three months for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, difficult to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred amount for testing. For tests like EtG, add-ons, and those exceeding 10 panels, a recommendation of 150mg is suggested. We advise weighing the sample with a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The processing of a hair-based drug test in a lab includes four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first step wherein a sample is prepared into the laboratory system. This step verifies the integrity of the sample’s seal and shipment, assigns a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) at random, and completes any required data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening checks swiftly for the presence of drugs. Although Screening is a cost-effective method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal acceptability. Any samples with a presumptive positive result from Screening require a subsequent confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, further hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are drawn out at concentrations much lower than those found in other methods like urine or oral fluid, emphasizing the complexity of performing hair drug testing.

Positive results in the screening phase are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, presumptive positive samples are cleaned as necessary. Each laboratory step from Accessioning through Confirmation is conducted under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reflect drug usage up to 90 days prior, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Hard to adulterate: Altering results in hair drug tests is notably challenging, which enhances accuracy.
• Historical pattern analysis: It elucidates trends of drug use over time, unlike tests only focusing on recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lacks short-term detectability: Drugs typically become evident in hair within 5-7 days after use.
• Higher cost: Hair drug testing generally incurs higher costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Influences such as hair pigmentation and individual hair growth rates can alter drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", this test evaluates the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Choose Hair Testing? In Forsyth, IL, hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests. Hair tests are unmatched in their ability to detect past substance use accurately. With a detection window spanning up to 90 days, they're ideal for employers looking for a clear picture of an individual's history, providing reliability that urine tests can't match.

Benefits of Hair Testing:

• Extended detection periods
• Reduced risk of falsification

Extended Detection Window

In Forsyth, IL, the hair follicle testing method offers an extended detection window, capturing drug use over a prolonged period—up to 90 days. This enables employers to assess an individual's substance use history comprehensively, avoiding short-term abstinence misconceptions. This method ensures that employers get a more accurate insight into an applicant or employee's habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Assurance: One of the key strengths of hair follicle testing in Forsyth, IL, is its resistance to tampering. By directly analyzing chemical residue in hair strands, this method eliminates the common risks of sample adulteration. Employers can trust the results are authentic and reliable, ensuring stringent adherence to workplace policies.

• Direct hair analysis
• Reduced adulteration risks

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures convenience with nationwide testing centers and local facilities in Forsyth, IL. With easy access to testing services, there is no need for hassle or long waiting times. Our centers are strategically located to offer swift and seamless service, making the testing process efficient and stress-free for all clients.

• Conveniently located centers
• Access to comprehensive services

Simple, Confidential Process

In Forsyth, IL, the process for hair follicle testing is simple and confidential, designed with user convenience in mind. Ordering a test, undergoing the process, and receiving results are streamlined to ensure privacy is always upheld. This approach addresses privacy concerns and provides ease of use for all involved parties.

• Confidentiality assured
• Easy and straightforward

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our services in Forsyth, IL, promise both affordable pricing and quick turnaround times. By providing competitive pricing structures, we ensure that businesses of all sizes can access premium testing services without financial strain. Quick results mean less waiting, offering great value and peace of mind for all stakeholders.

• Competitive pricing
• Fast results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug test is praised for its quick and precise results in Forsyth, IL. Its ability to accurately detect substance use makes it an invaluable tool for both personal and professional purposes. This testing method's precision ensures that results are both dependable and efficient, providing peace of mind with every test conducted.

Fast and Accurate:

• High precision in substance detection
• Speedy result turnaround without compromising quality

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Forsyth, IL, hair follicle testing offers compliance and peace of mind. Utilizing this method helps ensure adherence to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks. Safety in the workplace is enhanced as the detailed drug use history provided by hair tests supports informed decision-making in employment processes.

Drug Testing Near Forsyth, IL

Harristown, IL

Oakley, IL

Argenta, IL

Maroa, IL

Macon, IL

Decatur, IL

Warrensburg, IL

Oreana, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews