Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Grandwood Park, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures a prolonged timeline of substances by imprisoning biomarkers within its developing fibers. When hair is gathered near the scalp, it can present roughly a three-month period for detecting drugs and alcohol. Collection is straightforward, it’s relatively challenging to tamper with, and it is convenient to transport.

A segment of hair measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of around 200 strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's width) from the scalp will yield 100mg, which is the ideal quantity for screening and verification. For evaluations involving EtG, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, it’s advised to collect 150mg. We suggest using a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair cannot be sourced, a similar quantity of body hair may be harvested. When we mention head hair, we pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing for a drug test result generally comprises four major steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial steps in incorporating a sample into the lab’s system. This process ensures the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial swift assessment for substance abuse detection. Although it is a budget-friendly approach to exclude drug use in most samples, confirming a positive result is crucial for legal acceptability. Thus, any samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening must undergo a subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample be flagged as presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair will be extracted from the specimen for further processing in the Extraction stage. Here, substances are extracted from hair at substantially more diluted concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), explaining why hair drug testing poses the highest level of difficulty among methodologies.

For any positive outcomes in Screening, Confirmation is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples indicating presumption positivity are cleansed before Confirmation if necessary. Every step from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection timeframe: Hair drug analyses can trace substance use spanning up to 90 days, in contrast to shorter detection times associated with urine tests.
• Difficulty in falsification: Manipulating the outcome of a hair drug analysis is challenging, thereby enhancing result precision.
• Delivers historical insights: It can offer insights into substance usage patterns over time instead of focusing solely on recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Limitation in detecting recent consumption: Detection of drugs in hair typically requires 5-7 days to manifest.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments typically incur higher costs compared to alternative testing methods.
• Inconsistencies in findings: Variables like hair hue and individual discrepancies in growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite commonly being called "hair follicle tests", the examination actually evaluates the hair strand itself, excluding the follicle located beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Grandwood Park, IL
Unlike traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing offers a distinct advantage with a prolonged detection period, highlighting drug use with greater precision.

The thorough nature of hair analysis makes it virtually impossible to deceive, providing a superior level of reliability and accuracy in detecting illicit behaviors compared to standard urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Grandwood Park, IL
Hair follicle testing stands out due to its extensive ability to track drug use over the last three months, providing a thorough perspective of one's substance history.

This extended window of up to 90 days is pivotal for employers seeking detailed insights into an individual's past drug behavior, far exceeding the capabilities of standard testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Grandwood Park, IL
The robustness of hair follicle testing significantly curtails the risk of sample manipulation, ensuring legitimate and unquestionable results.

These tests are conducted in a manner that dramatically reduces tampering possibilities, offering a trusted method for corroborating drug-free status.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Grandwood Park, IL
With a network of testing centers nationwide, accessing testing services has never been easier. Local facilities ensure you receive hassle-free and swift service.

Our widespread availability provides seamless solutions to meet your testing needs conveniently, whether locally in Grandwood Park or elsewhere.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Grandwood Park, IL
The testing process, from ordering to completion and results, is straightforward and ensures privacy, addressing any personal concerns regarding ease and confidentiality.

You can rest assured knowing your testing procedures are handled with the utmost discretion and simplicity, allowing you to focus on accuracy and results without worry.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Grandwood Park, IL
Our competitive pricing structures coupled with expedited result turnarounds offer exceptional value, ensuring all businesses benefit from efficient and budget-friendly solutions.

Affordable options don't compromise on speed or accuracy, delivering quality results promptly for organizations of every size and need.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Grandwood Park, IL
Hair follicle drug tests are renowned for delivering prompt and precise outcomes. Their impressive accuracy ensures efficient substance detection, providing invaluable insights for decision-makers.

Advanced hair follicle testing technology not only detects drug use quickly but ensures these results are consistently reliable. Consequently, companies can confidently make informed decisions based on accurate analyses.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Grandwood Park, IL
Employing hair follicle testing aids in maintaining adherence to workplace drug policies, thereby minimizing potential legal consequences and promoting a secure working environment.

By utilizing these tests, employers gain confidence in their compliance efforts, contributing to overall workplace safety and security.

Drug Testing Near Grandwood Park, IL

Wadsworth, IL

Grayslake, IL

Wildwood, IL

Venetian Village, IL

Gages Lake, IL

Millburn, IL

Lindenhurst, IL

Old Mill Creek, IL

Third Lake, IL

Wedges Corner, 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.

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