Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hillsdale, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair examinations have emerged as an effective method for identifying substance and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged timeline of these substances by embedding biomarkers within the hair shaft. When secured close to the scalp, hair can ascertain an approximate 3-month time frame for detecting drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tough to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch length of around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil size) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is not obtainable, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When citing head hair, we refer to scalp hair exclusively. Body hair pertains to all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary steps in lab processing of drug testing outcomes are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial introduction of a specimen into a lab’s system. This process confirms that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any supplemental data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid assessment for substance misuse. While Screening is a financially efficient method to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be acceptable in legal settings. Any samples flagged as presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample be considered presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the primary sample to prepare for Extraction. At this stage, substances are derived from hair in significantly lower concentrations than in alternative methodologies (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can reveal drug usage for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a briefer detection time.
• Invasion prevention: The difficulty in manipulating a hair drug test contributes to more precise results.
• Chronological substance use data: It can illustrate a trend of substance use over an extended period, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent consumption: Detection in hair takes approximately 5-7 days post-drug use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in the hair.

Note: Though often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing in efficiency and detection capabilities.
While urine tests highlight recent substance use, hair tests provide a broader window up to 90 days. Hillsdale employers benefit from accurate results, as hair analysis is less susceptible to falsification compared to traditional urine testing methods.
This reliability makes hair tests the preferred option for drug-free workplace policies.

Extended Detection Window

Extend your reach in drug detection with hair testing's superior 90-day period.
This extended window enables a comprehensive review of an individual's recent substance history, providing detailed insights into their habits.
Such extensive evaluation offers Hillsdale employers a clear perspective on potential hires or current employees' behavioral track records.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Eliminate tampering risks with reliable hair follicle testing.
Hair testing significantly diminishes sample adulteration threats, ensuring test results remain unquestionable.
For organizations in Hillsdale, this means confidence in the integrity of results, supporting a factual drug-free workplace program through accurate, tamper-resistant testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience meets accessibility with our nationwide and Hillsdale, IL testing centers.
Deploying hair follicle testing across numerous locations ensures a swift, straightforward, and stress-free testing experience.

• Immediate access to testing services
• Quick and efficient processing
• Responsive support and scheduling

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process in Hillsdale, IL is as simple as it is confidential.
Ordering, taking the test, and receiving results are streamlined for user ease, assuring privacy and encouraging wider program adoption amongst individuals and corporate entities alike. This ensures participants enjoy peace of mind throughout their testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing coupled with swift results delivery in Hillsdale, IL.
Our cost-effective testing services not only offer excellent value but also cater to businesses of all sizes.
Quick turnaround times further reinforce our commitment to delivering timely results, giving organizations the assurance and satisfaction they need from a reliable testing partner.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Experience fast, precise, and reliable detection with hair follicle testing in Hillsdale, IL.
The high accuracy in detecting substances via hair analysis can't be underestimated. Unlike other methods, hair follicle testing offers swift results, ensuring that employers can swiftly proceed with recruitment processes or workplace assessments without unnecessary delays.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Hillsdale, IL employers, hair follicle testing assures regulatory compliance.
Adopting hair testing aligns with legal requisites, fostering a secure workplace environment. This practice not only reduces potential legal exposures but also supports the organization's commitment to maintaining a safe, drug-free work setting, bringing peace of mind to stakeholders and management alike.

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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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