Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kansas, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. The hair captures biomarkers within the strands as they grow, offering an extended history of alcohol and drug use. A sample collected near the scalp can provide a detection timeframe of approximately three months for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to ship.

An optimal screening and confirmation sample consists of a 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (akin to the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp, yielding 100mg of hair. For EtG tests, additional screenings, or those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair can be obtained. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key steps in processing a drug test result in a laboratory include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary process of entering a sample into a laboratory system. This stage involves confirming the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as a preliminary examination of samples for drugs. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug usage for most samples, any positive screen must be confirmed for court admissibility. Presumptively positive samples during Screening need a subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair from the initial specimen is extracted for further analysis. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at considerably lower concentrations compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the methodologically most challenging.

Confirmation for any positive Screening outcome is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation as necessary. The laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests provide detection for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have shorter detection periods.
• Difficulty to cheat: The accuracy of hair drug tests is heightened by their resistance to tampering.
• Provides historical data: They offer a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after roughly 5-7 days.
• Cost: Typically, hair drug tests are pricier compared to other testing methods.
• Variations in results: Drug metabolite concentration in hair can be influenced by factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests," this test analyzes the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Tests Beat Urine: Hair follicle testing in Kansas, IL offers superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. Hair tests extend the detection window significantly, capturing substance use up to 90 days prior. This makes them an ideal choice for comprehensive drug screening, reducing the risk of undetected substance abuse.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window: The ability of hair follicle tests to detect drug use up to 90 days makes them superior in Kansas, IL. This prolonged detection period provides employers with a detailed insight into an individual's substance history, essential for making well-informed hiring and retention decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Method: Hair follicle drug tests in Kansas, IL offer a high level of reliability by minimizing the risk of sample adulteration. The collection process is observed, ensuring that the samples remain uncompromised, providing employers with unquestioned and accurate results every time.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Locations: With a wide network of testing centers, including those in Kansas, IL, accessing hair follicle drug testing services is hassle-free. The nationwide reach ensures that testing is convenient, quick, and easily accessible, providing excellent support for both employers and individuals alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple and Confidential: In Kansas, IL, the process for hair follicle drug testing is both simple and discreet. From ordering to collection and result delivery, every step is designed with privacy and ease in mind, ensuring that clients feel secure and comfortable throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable and Fast: In Kansas, IL, competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times make hair follicle testing a cost-effective choice for businesses. The reasonable costs paired with swift results offer great value, enhancing decision-making processes without burdening budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Accurate results are a key advantage of hair follicle drug tests in Kansas, IL. The precision of this testing method ensures timely and reliable detection of substances. With its high accuracy rate, employers can make informed decisions quickly, bolstering confidence in the screening process. Results are available rapidly, facilitating swift action on detected substance use.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind: Employing hair follicle testing in Kansas, IL supports compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This testing method reduces legal risks and promotes a safer work environment, offering employers peace of mind with assured reliability and accuracy.

Drug Testing Near Kansas, IL

Martinsville, IL

Clark Center, IL

Hindsboro, IL

Charleston, IL

Brocton, IL

Rardin, IL

Kings, IL

Oakland, IL

Borton, IL

Redmon, IL

Westfield, IL

Ashmore, IL

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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