Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Granville, IL

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing has gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a long-term record of alcohol and drug presence by locking in biomarkers within the growing hair shaft. When sourced near the scalp, hair provides up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. It is straightforward to collect, difficult to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample of about 1.5 inches or 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp results in 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or more than 10 panels, a specimen amount of 150mg is suggested. Weighing the sample on a jeweler's scale is advisable. If scalp hair is absent, an equal volume of body hair can be collected. Head hair refers strictly to scalp hair, while body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary handling of the sample within a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing information not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a preliminary assessment to detect drugs. While cost-effective for ruling out drug consumption in most samples, a positive screening outcome needs confirmation for court admissibility. Samples presumed positive in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

A sample presumed positive at the Screening phase leads to additional hair extraction from the initial sample for preparation in the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are retrieved from the hair at substantially lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), affirming the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are cleansed prior to confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is overseen for compliance both with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, while urine tests offer a shorter range.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is highly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical data: Displays a pattern of drug use over time, surpassing mere recent use detection.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs take 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually bear higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual hair growth differences may affect drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests," the analysis targets the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Granville, IL

Hair follicle testing offers superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. In Granville, these tests provide a detailed substance use history, spotting drug use where other methods may fail.

The reliability of hair tests surpasses that of urine tests, offering a more comprehensive overview of an individual's past drug use, ensuring informed decision-making for employers.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Granville, IL

With hair follicle tests, drug use can be detected over a prolonged period, up to 90 days. In Granville, this extended window provides employers with a robust view of an individual's substance use history.

This method equips employers with the ability to make well-informed decisions about potential hires or current employees, fostering a safer, drug-free workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Granville, IL

Hair follicle tests in Granville significantly mitigate the risk of sample tampering. The collection process is observed, making it difficult to cheat or alter the sample, ensuring transparent results.

By reducing the likelihood of tampering, these tests provide employers with dependable data on an individual’s drug use, enhancing trust in the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Granville, IL

Our testing services offer nationwide coverage, bringing convenience to those in Granville. Accessible testing centers ensure quick, reliable service with minimal hassle.

Local facilities provide easy access to hair follicle testing, simplifying the process for employers and individuals needing timely and efficient substance screening.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Granville, IL

The process for hair follicle testing in Granville is straightforward and ensures confidentiality. From scheduling to receiving results, every step prioritizes privacy.

This seamless approach allows for discreet testing without sacrificing accuracy or security, addressing privacy concerns for all parties involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Granville, IL

Competitive pricing and swift turnaround times highlight the value offered by hair follicle testing services in Granville, accommodating businesses of all sizes.

Employers receive excellent service without compromise, benefitting from economic rates and quick results, ensuring value for money in managing a drug-free workplace.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Granville, IL

Hair follicle drug tests in Granville provide quick and reliable results. These tests are renowned for detecting substance use with high precision, making them a trusted choice among employers for identifying drug usage.

The accuracy of hair tests ensures that substance use is detected with high reliability, offering peace of mind to both companies and individuals concerned with maintaining a drug-free environment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Granville, IL

Utilizing hair follicle testing helps maintain compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This approach reduces legal risks while promoting a safe working environment in Granville.

Employers gain peace of mind knowing their drug-testing policies are stringent yet fair, ensuring safety and legal compliance throughout their business operations.

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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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