Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gibson City, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a historical record of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands' fibers. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer up to three months of detection capability for drugs and alcohol. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, typically about 200 strands (approximately equivalent to a #2 pencil in thickness), taken nearest the scalp, yields around 100mg of hair—ideal for screening and confirmation. For tests like EtG, add-ons, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing is recommended. If sufficient scalp hair isn’t present, an equivalent amount of body hair may be used. Head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other forms (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory drug testing process includes four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is about the foundational processing of a sample within a laboratory's system. This incorporates checking that the sample was correctly sealed and sent, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data input absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is the initial phase for the quick detection of substance abuse. Though Screening is economical for eliminating drug use across most samples, any positive result must be confirmed for legal validity. Samples showing presumptive positives in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

For samples with presumptive positives found during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for preparation in the Extraction procedure. Drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than in alternatives like urine or oral fluids, making hair drug tests particularly challenging.

Confirmation of positive outcomes in screenings is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Before confirmation, all presumptive positives undergo washing as necessary. Each aspect from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny to meet CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use up to 90 days back, whereas urine tests have a more limited detection timeframe.
• Resistance to cheating: Deceiving a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Records past behavior: It reveals a history of drug use over time, instead of just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect newly ingested substances: Drugs become detectable in hair only after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though commonly termed "hair follicle tests", these tests assess the hair strand itself rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing tests, hair follicle testing is superior to urine testing in Gibson City, IL. Hair testing offers a greater detection accuracy and reliability, effectively identifying drug use over an extended period. This makes it a preferred choice for industries with stringent substance abuse policies.

For those in Gibson City, IL, hair follicle drug tests provide an edge over traditional methods. Their ability to detect drug use over longer periods and offer reliable results positions them as a better alternative to standard urine testing options.

Extended Detection Window

In Gibson City, IL, hair follicle testing provides an extended detection window, tracing drug use up to 90 days. This prolonged period offers employers an in-depth understanding of an individual's substance history, crucial for informed decision-making.

Hair follicle tests in Gibson City deliver a more comprehensive analysis due to their long detection period. This enables employers to have a broader picture of an applicant or employee's drug use history compared to shorter alternative methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Gibson City, IL, stand out as tamper-resistant testing methods, significantly reducing sample adulteration risks. This ensures reliable and unquestionable results, providing trust in the testing process.

With the robust nature of hair follicle testing, employers in Gibson City can have confidence in its reliable and tamper-resistant methodologies, eliminating concerns over potential sample manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is guaranteed with our nationwide testing centers, including those in Gibson City, IL. This ensures quick, easy, and hassle-free access to testing services, making it simple for businesses and individuals to undertake necessary drug tests.

Accredited Drug Testing provides localized access with its extensive network, including Gibson City, IL, ensuring seamless service for those requiring immediate and reliable drug testing solutions across various locations.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our simple and confidential process in Gibson City, IL, focuses on ease of ordering, taking, and receiving results. This addresses privacy concerns and ensures a straightforward experience for all participants seeking hair follicle drug testing.

In Gibson City, IL, Accredited Drug Testing offers a hassle-free process, maintaining confidentiality while efficiently guiding users from test order through result receipt to meet all privacy needs.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Gibson City, IL, offers affordable pricing paired with fast turnaround, ensuring excellent value. Quick results ensure that companies, regardless of size, can benefit from timely and cost-efficient drug testing services.

We stand out in Gibson City, IL, thanks to our highly competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, delivering affordable solutions without compromising the quality or reliability of our drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results can be expected with hair follicle drug tests in Gibson City, IL. These tests offer precision and speed, ensuring substance use is detected accurately. Hair follicle testing stands out due to its high level of accuracy, making it indispensable for comprehensive drug screening.

Employers in Gibson City can benefit from the precision and speed of hair follicle tests, which are known for their ability to deliver highly accurate results. This ensures any potential risks associated with substance use are identified promptly and efficiently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Gibson City, IL, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies. It enhances safety and reduces legal risks, providing peace of mind for employers dedicated to creating a substance-free working environment.

Employing hair follicle drug tests helps employers in Gibson City uphold workplace safety and regulatory compliance, promoting a drug-free setting and reducing the likelihood of legal complications.

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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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