Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Golden Eagle, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is widely recognized as a potent method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the hair strand fibers, hair offers a historical record of alcohol and drug use. When collected near the scalp, hair can furnish a detection timeline for drugs and alcohol of up to about three months. It is straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of around 200 strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG and additional tests beyond 10 panels, it is advisable to collect 150mg. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair is acceptable. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory analysis of a drug test typically involves four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial incorporation of a sample into a lab’s system. This step involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any additional data input not already provided by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening constitutes an initial rapid assessment for drug presence. While it is a cost-effective approach to exclude drug usage across most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be court-admissible. Samples that test presumptively positive during screening require a second confirmation.

Should a sample result be presumptively positive during the screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for preparation in the Extraction stage. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples presumed to be positive undergo washing before confirmation, as needed. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection time frame.
• Hard to manipulate: It is exceptionally challenging to tamper with a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers usage history: It reveals a timeline of drug consumption over an extended period, not solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot reveal recent use: A period of roughly 5-7 days is necessary for drug traces to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically priced higher than alternate drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair shaft and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Outshines Urine Testing in Golden Eagle, IL

Hair testing is superior to traditional urine tests due to its longer detection capability and unparalleled reliability. While urine tests are common, hair tests deliver a broader window of detection, uncovering drug use that may not appear in urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Golden Eagle, IL

Hair follicle testing allows for drug detection over an extended period of up to 90 days. This advantage provides employers with a detailed view of an individual’s substance use history, offering a significant edge over shorter-term testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Golden Eagle, IL

Hair follicle tests offer a tamper-resistant option that vastly reduces the chances of sample adulteration. Providing reliable results, this method ensures legitimacy and accuracy, securing the testing process against manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations Nationwide in Golden Eagle, IL

Our extensive network of testing centers ensures accessibility and convenience. Whether in Golden Eagle or across the nation, our locations make drug testing fast, simple, and efficient, catering to your needs wherever you are.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple and Confidential Process in Golden Eagle, IL

We prioritize a straightforward and private testing process. From ordering to obtaining results, we uphold confidentiality, allowing individuals to engage in the testing process with peace of mind and ease.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Quick Turnaround in Golden Eagle, IL

Our competitive pricing models and speedy processing times offer businesses of all sizes excellent value. We focus on providing cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality or speed, ensuring satisfaction for all our clients.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Reliable Results in Golden Eagle, IL

Hair follicle drug tests provide highly accurate and quick results, making them a preferred choice in Golden Eagle. The precision of hair testing ensures that substance use is detected effectively, giving employers and other stakeholders the information they need swiftly and accurately.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Employer Peace of Mind in Golden Eagle, IL

Utilizing hair follicle testing helps employers meet compliance requirements and protect workplace environments. Reducing legal risks, this reliable testing solution ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies.

Drug Testing Near Golden Eagle, IL

Hartford, IL

Wood River, IL

Brighton, IL

East Alton, IL

Kane, IL

Godfrey, IL

Alton, IL

Jerseyville, IL

Fieldon, IL

Otterville, IL

Elsah, IL

Batchtown, IL

Saint Charles, IL

Meppen, IL

Brussels, 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