Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hurst, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a repository of a prolonged alcohol and drug history by capturing biomarkers within its growing strands. When collected close to the head, it offers a detection period of up to around three months for substances like alcohol and other drugs. It's easy to gather, hard to tamper with, and convenient for shipping.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches with approximately 200 strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's thickness) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, optimal for testing and validation. For EtG, supplementary tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. It's best to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When head hair is mentioned, it specifically refers to scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing drug test results comprises four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab's system. This involves ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling out any additional data details not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening signifies an initial swift examination to identify drugs of abuse. While cost-effective as a preliminary check for most samples, a positive result must be confirmed to be valid in court. Any samples tentatively positive in Screening require a secondary Confirmation.

Should a sample test tentatively positive during Screening, additional hair is sourced from the original specimen for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at a notably lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing is considered the most challenging to perform.

Any positive outcome from Screening undergoes Confirmation through methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are washed before confirmation as needed. The complete laboratory process, spanning from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed 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 window: Hair drug tests can recognize drug use up to 90 days, unlike the shorter detection period of urine tests.
• Difficult to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, assuring greater result accuracy.
• Tracks historical data: It reveals a timeline of drug consumption, providing insights beyond recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more compared to other methodologies.
• Result fluctuations: Variables like hair color and individual hair growth discrepancies can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In comparing hair and urine testing in Hurst, IL, hair follicle testing shows distinct advantages. While urine tests are traditional, hair tests offer superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair testing provides a broader detection timeline, capturing drug use history with clearer accuracy, beneficial for employers seeking comprehensive screening.

Extended Detection Window

Offering an extended detection period, hair follicle testing in Hurst, IL becomes crucial in understanding an individual's substance use history. This method reveals drug consumption over an impressive span of up to 90 days, offering a detailed look into the applicant or employee's past usage, thus supporting informed hiring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle tests in Hurst, IL significantly minimizes the risk of sample alteration. This characteristic makes the results reliable and credible, as the collection process is observed, eliminating doubts over the authenticity of the test outcomes and bolstering trust in the results provided.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Hurst, IL, finding a convenient testing location is seamless, thanks to our nationwide network. With centers readily accessible, individuals benefit from quick and hassle-free services. The broad availability ensures that both employers and employees can easily meet testing requirements without inconvenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Hair follicle testing in Hurst, IL, features a simple and confidential process. From ordering the test to receiving the results, the system is designed to protect privacy and ease of use. This streamlined approach ensures that all personal data remains secure while providing users with a straightforward experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Hurst, IL, the pricing of hair follicle testing is affordable and the turnaround times are fast, offering businesses excellent value. Our competitive pricing structures cater to companies of all sizes, ensuring that every organization can maintain a drug-free workplace without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests are known for their precision and speed, making them a top choice in Hurst, IL. These tests provide fast and reliable results, ensuring that employers get a clear and accurate picture of an individual's substance use. With their high accuracy, hair tests stand out as a superior measure for detecting drug consumption.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Hurst, IL, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug policies while enhancing workplace safety. By offering peace of mind through steadfast adherence to zero-tolerance policies, this method reduces legal risks and fosters a secure environment for all employees.

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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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