Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Greenfield, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a detailed history of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. If gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection timeframe of up to around three months for alcohol and other drugs. The collection process is straightforward, it’s challenging to tamper with, and it's easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of about 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) close to the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding ten, it's suggested to gather 150mg of the hair. We recommend measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, body hair of an equivalent measure may be taken. When mentioning head hair, we are specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair refers to hair from other regions (facial, axillary, and so on).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test result follows four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial introduction of a sample into a lab’s system. This process involves checking that the sample is sealed and transported correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and performing any additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening consists of a preliminary and rapid check for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method for eliminating drug use in most samples, any positive result must be confirmed to hold up in court. Samples that show a presumptive positive result in Screening require further confirmation.

If a sample exhibits a presumptive positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), highlighting hair drug analysis as the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation regarding any positive Screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Before confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the licensing to ISO / IEC 17025 benchmarks.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug analyses can identify drug usage for as long as 90 days, compared to urine analyses which offer a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to manipulate: Manipulating a hair drug analysis is very difficult, ensuring more accurate outcomes.
• Supplies historical data: It provides a record of drug consumption over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent consumption: Drugs take approximately 5-7 days to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug analysis approaches.
• Result variations: Aspects like hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence the concentration of metabolites found in the hair.

Note: While often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Greenfield, IL
Compared to urine tests, hair follicle testing provides superior accuracy and reliability. It boasts a longer detection window and is nearly impossible to tamper with, making it an apt choice for employers and legal entities focused on thorough screening.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Greenfield, IL
With an impressive detection capacity of up to 90 days, hair follicle testing offers a broader insight into an individual's substance use history. This extensive window grants employers a more detailed understanding of an applicant's or employee's past drug use than other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Greenfield, IL
Hair follicle tests significantly diminish the danger of sample tampering. By being more difficult to alter than other testing methods, they provide reliable and unquestionable results, thus maintaining integrity in substance screening processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Greenfield, IL
Strategically positioned across the nation, our testing centers provide swift and convenient access. Whether you’re in Greenfield or elsewhere, our network facilitates hassle-free drug testing services close to your vicinity.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Greenfield, IL
We guarantee a streamlined and discreet testing process from ordering to receiving results. This ensures privacy and convenience, addressing any concerns about confidentiality and ease of use for individuals and employers alike.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Greenfield, IL
Our competitive pricing and quick processing times offer exceptional value to companies of any size. With cost-effective solutions and swift results, businesses can maintain peace of mind while managing budget constraints efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Greenfield, IL
Hair follicle drug tests ensure a quick turnaround with precise outcomes. Compared to conventional methods, they deliver faster and highly reliable substance detection, confirming accuracy in evaluating drug use, thus ensuring informed decisions swiftly without compromising on quality of assessment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Greenfield, IL
Hair follicle testing helps secure compliance with drug-free workplace standards, minimizing legal risks while enhancing safety. Employers benefit from the assurance of maintaining a secure work environment with reduced incidences of substance misuse.

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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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