Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hanover, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now regarded as an effective mechanism for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extensive history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When gathered close to the scalp, hair can provide a detection window for alcohol and drugs of up to roughly 3 months. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to counterfeit, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion of nearly 200 hair strands (roughly the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When mentioning head hair, we refer exclusively to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in lab processing of a drug test result are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This process involves confirming the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data input not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes an initial quick examination for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug usage in most samples, a positive screen needs validation to be admissible in court. Any samples that appear positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample appears positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is a complex methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is done via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples that appear positive are washed before confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can recognize drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests' shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: It is exceptionally difficult to manipulate a hair drug test, rendering the outcomes more reliable.
• Offers historical data: It can reveal a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although often termed "hair follicle tests", the test itself examines the hair strand, not the follicle below the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Hanover, IL: Hair testing shines when compared to traditional urine testing due to its remarkable detection accuracy and reliability. It surpasses urine tests by offering a longer detection window and minimizing the chances of tampering, making it a superior choice for thorough and trustworthy screening.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Hanover, IL: Hair follicle tests are favored for their ability to trace drug use over an extensive time frame of up to 90 days. This provides employers with a detailed insight into the substance history of employees or applicants, offering a comprehensive analysis that urine tests fail to deliver.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Hanover, IL: One of the key advantages of hair follicle testing is its resistance to tampering. The chance of adulterating a sample is greatly reduced, ensuring that the results are both reliable and unquestionable, providing stakeholders with confidence in the testing procedure.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Hanover, IL: Our extensive network of testing centers nationwide, including those in Hanover, IL, ensures testing is quick and easy. This widespread availability eliminates logistical hassles, facilitating seamless access to necessary testing services wherever needed.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Hanover, IL: The process is designed to be straightforward and confidential, from ordering the test to receiving the results. This setup ensures that users' privacy is maintained, addressing concerns about disclosure and facilitating a stress-free experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Hanover, IL: Our competitive pricing models combined with rapid result delivery offer great value for businesses big and small. This efficiency ensures peace of mind by balancing cost-effectiveness with timely, reliable drug testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Hanover, IL: Hair follicle drug tests deliver swift, precise outcomes. Due to their high accuracy, they are excellent at revealing substance usage. This testing method ensures fast and consistent results, making it the preferred choice for those seeking reliability and integrity in analytical drug testing.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Hanover, IL: Implementing hair follicle testing allows employers in Hanover, IL to adhere to drug-free workplace policies easily. This not only mitigates legal risks but also promotes a safer work environment, contributing to peace of mind for all involved.

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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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