Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Half Day, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair tests are now regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by trapping biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. When obtained near the scalp, hair samples can offer up to a 3-month detection timeframe for drugs and alcohol. It's easy to collect, tough to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (about the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for diagnostics and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or tests beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is unobtainable, a similar amount of body hair can be collected. By "head hair," we mean scalp hair specifically. "Body hair" encompasses other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The core steps in the lab analysis of a drug test are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial setup of a sample within a lab’s systems. This covers confirming the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data input not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a primary swift evaluation for substance abuse. While Screening offers a cost-efficient means to dismiss drug use in a majority of cases, a positive screen must be verified for court acceptance. Any samples that are potentially positive during Screening need a secondary validation.

If a sample is potentially positive during the Screening stage, more hair is drawn from the original sample for Extraction. At this point, drugs are isolated from hair at a significantly lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug testing is the most challenging method to execute.

Validation of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All possibly positive samples are cleaned prior to validation as required. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and the certification to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can spot drug usage for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests, which offer a shorter detection range.
• Challenging to falsify: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely difficult, rendering the results more precise.
• Gives historical data: It can illustrate a pattern of drug consumption over a duration, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Unable to identify recent use: Drugs require about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically more costly than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Outcome variability: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Half Day, IL
The advantages of hair testing over urine tests include superior detection accuracy and reliability. Employers can benefit from hair testing as it provides a more comprehensive view of an individual's drug history, ensuring workplace safety and compliance.

Traditional urine tests may miss long-term substance use, whereas hair tests reveal consistent abuse patterns, making them a robust choice for zero-tolerance policies.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Half Day, IL
Hair follicle testing provides a detection window of up to 90 days, offering employers a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance use history. This extended period gives insights into long-term substance behavior unavailable from standard tests.

Employers gain a clearer picture of a candidate or employee’s habits, aiding in reliable assessments of suitability for roles requiring sobriety and reliability.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Half Day, IL
The reliability of hair follicle tests is enhanced by their resistance to tampering. This method reduces the likelihood of manipulated samples, providing trustworthy test results every time, fostering trust and confidence among stakeholders.

Employers can rely on hair tests for unaltered results, ensuring evaluations are based on accurate data, which is crucial in maintaining rigorous drug-free policies in the workplace.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Half Day, IL
Our nationwide network of testing centers guarantees convenient and hassle-free access to hair testing services. Whether in Half Day or anywhere else, testing locations are within easy reach, allowing for smooth and timely testing processes, meeting clients' needs swiftly and efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Half Day, IL
The process for ordering, administering, and receiving results from hair testing is straightforward and confidential. It ensures the privacy of individuals is respected, while maintaining ease of use. This user-friendly experience is crucial for those concerned about discretion in drug testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Half Day, IL
Our hair follicle drug testing comes with competitive pricing, making it an excellent choice for businesses of all sizes seeking cost-effective solutions. Fast turnaround times enhance this value, ensuring employers obtain necessary results promptly without compromising quality or accuracy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Half Day, IL
Hair follicle drug tests offer exceptional precision and speed, ensuring accurate substance detection. This method provides rapid and reliable results, which is crucial for timely decision-making in various workplaces and legal settings.

Employers and legal authorities benefit from the hair test's ability to quickly identify substance use, reinforcing its superiority in accurate substance detection over traditional methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Half Day, IL
Employers utilizing hair follicle drug testing ensure adherence to workplace drug-free policies, reducing legal exposure and enhancing safety. This method offers peace of mind by aligning with industry standards and minimizing risks associated with drug use in work environments, protecting both employees and company reputation.

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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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