Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Garrett, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Within growing hair fibers, biomarkers are trapped, offering a detailed record of alcohol and drug intake. Hair, when collected near the scalp, offers a detection period extending up to three months for alcohol and drugs. The process of collecting hair is straightforward, hard to compromise, and easy to send.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, suitable for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weight of 150mg is suggested. We advise using a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, a similar volume of body hair is acceptable. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair. In contrast, "body hair" pertains to other hair types (like facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

There are four primary phases in processing a drug test result in a laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial phase, where a sample is introduced into a laboratory’s system. This step ensures the sample is correctly sealed and shipped, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry lacking in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While cost-efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, any positive screen must be confirmed for court admissibility. Those samples with presumptive positive screens require further confirmation.

Should the sample test positive in the Screening phase, extra hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction process. Drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), challenging the hair drug screening methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening result uses GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Any presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection range: Hair drug tests identify drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is notably difficult, ensuring higher accuracy in results.
• Tracks historical usage: It offers a pattern of drug consumption over time, not only recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair in about 5-7 days.
• Higher expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Influences such as hair color and growth rate variations can alter drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly described as "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle tests in Garrett, IL, surpass traditional urine tests in various aspects. One major advantage is their ability to detect substance use over a more extended period of up to 90 days, unlike urine tests.

The precision and reliability of hair testing offer a superior solution, as they significantly minimize the chances of tampering or manipulation compared to urine sample tests.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Garrett, IL, provides employers a thorough insight into an individual’s long-term drug use.

This method detects substance use over a period of up to 90 days, offering a comprehensive evaluation of an applicant or employee's substance history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Garrett, IL, utilizes hair follicle tests to significantly diminish the risk of sample tampering. This high level of security results in reliable and unquestionable outcomes.

By reducing the potential for adulteration, hair tests stand as a trustworthy method for accurate drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With our convenient nationwide network of testing centers, including local options in Garrett, IL, accessing testing services is simplified.

This availability ensures quick, easy, and stress-free processes, allowing individuals and organizations seamless access to necessary testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing process in Garrett, IL, remains straightforward and confidential. Ordering, undertaking, and receiving test results is designed with privacy and simplicity in mind.

These factors address any concerns about privacy and the user-friendliness of the procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Garrett, IL, hair follicle drug testing offers competitive pricing and rapid results, offering businesses of all sizes excellent value.

These affordable and swift services provide reassurance and efficiency, ensuring companies can maintain their standards without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Garrett, IL, hair follicle drug tests are recognized for their exceptional speed and precision. These tests offer a reliable measure of substance use, providing results that accurately reflect drug consumption.

The high accuracy associated with hair follicle testing ensures that individuals and employers can trust the outcomes. Rapid testing processes enable swift results, affording reassurance and clarity in decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Garrett, IL benefit from hair follicle testing as it ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies.

This method supports overall safety by reducing legal risks and enhancing compliance, offering peace of mind for businesses.

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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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