Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Gilberts, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a comprehensive timeline of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the hair's growing strands. When sampled near the scalp, it can reveal information for up to about three months regarding alcohol and drug use. The process of collecting hair samples is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) cut closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler's scale to weigh the specimen is recommended. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equal measure of body hair may be used. When referencing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four principal phases in the lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning includes the initial integration of a sample into the lab’s system. This step involves confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data requirements absent from an electronic chain of custody record.

Screening constitutes a preliminary swift examination for drug misuse. While it is a cost-efficient means to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screening must be verified to stand up in court. Any samples that initially test positive require additional confirmation.

Should a sample yield a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair from the initial collection is utilized for Extraction. In this step, drugs are derived from hair in lower concentrations compared to other testing methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug analysis particularly challenging.

The Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives are washed as necessary prior to confirmation. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug screenings can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, ensuring more reliable results.
• Reveals historical patterns: It can depict a timeline of drug use over an interval, beyond just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Recent usage undetectable: Drugs typically become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand rather than the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers significant advantages over urine tests in Gilberts, IL. It provides superior detection capabilities, highlighting its reliability and precision.
Unmatched accuracy characterizes hair testing, reducing false negatives or positives.
Its extended detection surpasses urine tests, making it ideal for identifying long-term drug use patterns.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing extends the detection period significantly, allowing insight into drug use for up to 90 days in Gilberts, IL.
Employers gain a complete view of substance use history, enhancing hiring decisions.
This long-term insight into an applicant's drug use is indispensable for maintaining a drug-free workplace environment.
Such extensive detection is unattainable with standard urine tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant advantage, minimizing risks of sample manipulation in Gilberts, IL.
This test's rigorous oversight during sample collection ensures authenticity, providing reliable outcomes.
High resistance to adulteration means hair testing produces unquestionable results that stakeholders can trust implicitly.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Enjoy convenient testing with numerous nationwide and local centers in Gilberts, IL.
Our expansive network ensures easy access, making the testing process seamless.
Providing quick and hassle-free testing ensures organizations maintain efficient operations without disruption.
Accessing services has never been easier or more straightforward.

Simple, Confidential Process

Experience a simple and confidential testing process in Gilberts, IL.
Ordering, participation, and result dissemination are designed to protect privacy while ensuring ease of use.
Our procedure addresses privacy concerns, ensuring participants are comfortable and the process remains discreet.
Simplicity meets confidentiality efficiently.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

We offer affordable pricing and rapid results in Gilberts, IL.
Our competitive rates ensure excellent return on investment for businesses, regardless of size.
The quick turnaround time reinforces value, granting peace of mind through swift and reliable service.
This balance of cost-effectiveness and promptness is unrivaled.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Gilberts, IL deliver fast, precise results. These tests provide quick, reliable detection of drug use, ensuring high accuracy. When time is crucial, hair testing stands out with its rapid processing time.
Employers and authorities can trust hair testing for dependable assessments.
The streamlined process ensures measurements are exact and timely, vital for effective decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Gilberts, IL ensures compliance and peace of mind for employers.
By aligning with drug-free workplace rules, legal liabilities are minimized, fostering a safer work environment.
Employers experience reduced risks associated with non-compliance, emphasizing safety and adhering to safety standards.

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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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