Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Homer, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers within the hair strand as it grows. When collected from near the scalp, this method can offer up to nearly a 3-month timeframe for detecting alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to send.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg, the optimal amount for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the material is advised. It's suggested to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. By scalp hair, we mean only hair from the head, whereas body hair includes all other hair types (face, axilla, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample into the lab system. This involves confirming that the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data input missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical way to identify drug usage in most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be court-admissible. Any presumptively positive samples in Screening necessitate a secondary verification.

Should a sample test presumptively positive in the Screening stage, more hair is utilized from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During this step, drugs are extracted from hair at far lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug analysis the most challenging method to execute.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are cleansed before confirmation if needed. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited according to 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 indicate drug use over a 90-day period, unlike urine tests which have a shorter timeframe.
• Challenging to deceive: It is extremely hard to falsify a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a usage pattern over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the concentration levels of drug metabolites in hair.

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

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Homer, IL, hair follicle testing outperforms urine tests by offering greater accuracy and reliability. Hair tests provide a clearer picture of substance use history, detecting drug use over a much longer span than urine tests.

• Hair testing is harder to cheat, ensuring authenticity.
• Employers, courts, and professionals prefer hair tests for their comprehensive detection capabilities.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Homer, IL reveals drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days, offering a comprehensive assessment of an individual's substance history.

• Employers benefit from insights into long-term drug habits.
• This extended window provides better scrutiny over an employee's or applicant’s substance use record.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests significantly curtail the risk of sample adulteration in Homer, IL, guaranteeing reliable and unquestionable results.

• Obtaining a sample is straightforward and monitored, minimizing tampering chances.
• The integrity of the testing process is maintained, providing peace of mind.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient locations nationwide, including in Homer, IL, ensuring easy access to testing services.

• Our network of testing centers allows for quick and hassle-free testing.
• Local availability ensures fast service with minimal disruptions to daily schedules.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Homer, IL is simple and confidential, addressing privacy concerns while being easy to use.

• Ordering tests and receiving results is straightforward.
• Confidential handling of results ensures privacy is maintained.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Homer, IL boasts competitive pricing for hair follicle testing, coupled with fast result timings, offering excellent value to businesses of all sizes.

• Our pricing structures are designed to be cost-effective.
• Quick turnaround times enhance the testing value, providing peace of mind immediately.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Homer, IL provide precise and rapid results. Known for their high accuracy, they effectively detect substance use. This method ensures fast analysis, delivering timely findings that are reliable and consistent.

• The testing process is streamlined, offering swift turnaround times.
• Reliable results increase trust in testing outcomes, supporting informed decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Homer, IL achieve compliance with drug-free workplace policies through hair follicle testing, reducing legal risks and ensuring a safe working environment.

• This testing method aligns with zero-tolerance policies.
• It enhances workplace safety by detecting long-term substance use.

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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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