Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hillview, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair examination has emerged as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended record of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the strands as they develop. When gathered near the scalp, hair can detect traces of alcohol and drugs for up to roughly three months. Hair is easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches from nearly 200 hair strands (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil) taken close to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the perfect quantity for both screening and verification. For EtG, supplements, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weight of 150mg is advisable. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If there is no scalp hair, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (like facial and axillary).

Process Summary

The sequence of activities in processing a drug test result in the lab involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning signifies the initial handling of a sample entering a laboratory's system. It involves checking that the sample is properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a confidential LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional tasks not covered by an electronic custody chain.

Screening carries out an initial, swift assessment for substance abuse. Screening is a cost-effective method for eliminating drug usage in most samples; however, legal admissibility requires a confirmed positive screening. Samples that yield a presumptive positive require a follow-up confirmation.

A presumptive positive in the Screening phase necessitates additional hair to be gathered from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing particularly challenging to execute.

Any positive screening findings undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptively positive samples are cleaned before confirmation as deemed necessary. The full lab workflow—from Accessioning to Confirmation—is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug evaluations can reveal drug usage spanning up to 90 days, whereas urine tests cover a briefer timeframe.
• Challenging to deceive: It's exceptionally tough to dodge a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers timeline insights: It illustrates a substance use pattern over weeks or months, not merely recent usage.

Disadvantages:

• Incapable of identifying recent intake: Detecting drugs in hair takes about 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug analyses are usually pricier than other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair hue and growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Though labeled as "hair follicle tests", the assessment concentrates on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Hillview, IL, hair follicle tests surpass traditional urine tests in several areas. Their high detection accuracy and reliability make them a preferred choice for many. Hair testing is less susceptible to tampering and can detect drug use over a longer period, offering a more comprehensive overview of an individual's drug history.

The superior detection window, which can span up to 90 days, ensures that employers and professionals get a detailed assessment of substance use patterns, a feature not always guaranteed by standard urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

When it comes to identifying drug use, hair follicle testing in Hillview, IL, provides a significant advantage with its extended detection window. Capable of revealing drug use for up to 90 days, these tests give employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance history.

This prolonged detection period is particularly beneficial for assessing longer-term drug habits, offering a clearer picture than shorter-window tests, and ensuring employers can make well-informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Hillview, IL, hair follicle tests serve as a robust defense against sample tampering. Due to the nature of hair testing, manipulating results is significantly hindered, ensuring trustworthy outcomes.

Providing security and reliability, hair follicle tests are the go-to choice when it comes to avoiding sample adulteration. This method reassures employers and individuals that the results reflect an accurate assessment of substance use without external interference.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Hillview, IL, and across the nation, the convenience of our testing centers ensures access to drug screening is quick and hassle-free. With numerous locations, individuals and employers alike can find nearby facilities to conduct essential testing without difficulty.

This widespread availability means that testing services are not only accessible but also efficient, making the process smoother for everyone involved, thanks to readily available nationwide facilities.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Hillview, IL, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be straightforward and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, each step respects privacy concerns ensuring ease of use for every participant.

This uncomplicated approach to testing helps alleviate worries related to privacy and complexity, making the process an attractive option for those seeking reliable substance use assessments without intrusive procedures.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and quick turnaround times in Hillview, IL, underscore the value that hair follicle testing provides. Companies of all sizes benefit from affordable options that do not compromise quality.

Not only is our pricing model appealing, but the rapid processing of tests ensures that results are delivered promptly, meeting the needs of companies looking for cost-effective and efficient drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Hillview, IL, hair follicle drug tests stand out due to their rapid and precise outcomes. Their accuracy in detecting substance usage is unparalleled, ensuring reliable results. Speedy processing means that results are available much faster than traditional methods, giving both employers and individuals peace of mind.

Because hair follicle tests analyze samples thoroughly, you can expect a high degree of accuracy in determining drug use. This precision speaks to the robustness of the testing methodologies employed, ensuring that the results you receive are both comprehensive and trustworthy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Hillview, IL, gain assurance and compliance by implementing hair follicle testing. This method supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies, reducing potential legal risks and promoting a safer work environment.

Ensuring regulatory compliance and fostering a secure workplace becomes more accessible with hair follicle testing, providing companies with the tools they need to enforce zero-tolerance policies effectively while maintaining peace of mind.

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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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