Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kings, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains biomarkers within its fibers, offering a retrospective timeline of substance use. When hair is trimmed close to the scalp, it can offer an approximate detection span of three months for drugs and alcohol. The process of hair collection is straightforward, resists tampering, and facilitates hassle-free transport.

By taking a 1.5-inch section of about 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp, 100mg of hair can be acquired, delivering an optimal sample for both screening and corroboration. For EtG, additional checks, and analyses exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equivalent volume of body hair is acceptable. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. In contrast, body hair denotes all other varieties (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory handling of a drug test result encompasses four primary stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial intake of a specimen into the lab’s workflow. This process ensures the sample's proper sealing and shipping, generates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fills in any absent information not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary rapid evaluation for substance misuse. Although Screening offers an economical approach for excluding drug usage in most specimens, any positive outcome needs judicial confirmation. Samples displaying presumptively positive results in Screening demand follow-up confirmation.

In cases where a sample indicates a presumptive positive result in Screening, additional hair is selected from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. This step involves deducing substances from hair at concentrations significantly lower than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence making hair drug analysis the most intricate method to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening conclusion is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS techniques. Each presumptive positive sample undergoes necessary washing before confirmation. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredits compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug examinations can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine evaluations which cover a shorter period.
• Resistance to manipulation: Cheating a hair drug test poses significant challenges, ensuring more reliable outcomes.
• Reveals usage history: It presents a record of drug intake over time, not simply recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of identifying recent consumption: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments are typically costlier than alternative testing methods.
• Variable outcomes: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Kings, IL
The superiority of hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests lies in its extended detection timeframe and precision. While urine tests capture recent usage, hair follicles offer a broader view of an individual's drug history. Hair testing's reliability roots from its immunity to tampering, providing a trusted result for strict workplace policies.

Hair follicle tests are invaluable for companies enforcing zero-tolerance substance policies, granting a dependable history of substance use. This testing compares favorably against urine methods, which, though effective for short-term detection, fall short in offering a comprehensive substance use analysis.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Kings, IL
With hair follicle testing, drug use can be identified up to 90 days prior, offering a detailed substance use history. This extensive detection window is advantageous for employers aiming to assess potential employees impartially—a window exceeding what urine tests provide significantly.

The extended detection period ensures businesses can verify an applicant's commitment to drug-free values over time, enhancing the selection process. Ensuring long-term compliance with company policies is critical, and hair follicle tests equip employers with the insights necessary for informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Kings, IL
One of the key benefits of hair follicle testing is its resistance to tampering. Unlike urine testing, hair samples are extremely difficult to adulterate or substitute, providing assurance in the test's authenticity and accuracy.

This tamper-resistant feature makes hair testing a premier option for employers needing robust evidence of substance use history. Offering unquestioned results due to its tamper-proof nature, it ensures that workplace health and safety standards are met consistently and confidently.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Kings, IL
With testing centers spread nationwide, including in Kings, IL, acquiring a hair follicle test is effortless and quick. The convenience of easily accessible locations removes any barriers for getting tested.

Our strategically placed testing sites ensure clients from different areas can avail themselves of our services without hassle. This accessibility adds a layer of convenience, making the testing process swift and seamless, catering to both businesses and individuals efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Kings, IL
Our hair follicle testing process is both straightforward and private, ensuring peace of mind throughout. From ordering to results, every step respects confidentiality, addressing privacy concerns while making the procedure user-friendly.

The emphasis on maintaining discretion ensures sensitive data is protected, allowing subjects to undergo testing without fear of exposure. Guaranteeing an efficient and anonymous process increases trust and user satisfaction significantly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Kings, IL
Our competitive pricing structure combined with quick result turnaround offers outstanding value for companies, regardless of size. We prioritize affordability without compromising the quality and speed of our services.

Offering rapid outcomes at a price point tailored to various budgetary needs benefits large and small enterprises alike, supporting their objective of maintaining a drug-free work setting economically.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Kings, IL
Hair follicle testing provides unmatched precision and rapid results. Its superior accuracy makes it a preferred choice for employers requiring reliable detection of substance abuse. Hair tests quickly identify substances, ensuring that both employers and applicants have a clear understanding of the testing outcomes.

The high-speed processing combined with demonstrable accuracy makes hair follicle testing an indispensable tool in maintaining safety standards while delivering results promptly. Whether for pre-employment screening or ongoing checks, this method confirms adherence to substance regulations effectively.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Kings, IL
The use of hair follicle testing facilitates compliance with drug-free policies, minimizing legal dangers and enhancing security at workplaces. This method provides employers with peace of mind, assuring comprehensive adherence to regulatory standards.

By implementing hair testing, businesses ensure a safer working environment, adhering to policy mandates decisively. Employers are left with less worry about potential legal issues, focusing on fostering a secure and efficient workspace free from the encumbrances of drug-related risks.

Drug Testing Near Kings, IL

Villa Grove, IL

Westfield, IL

Longview, IL

Metcalf, IL

Camargo, IL

Ashmore, IL

Newman, IL

Hume, IL

Kansas, IL

Rardin, IL

Hindsboro, IL

Redmon, IL

Brocton, IL

Borton, IL

Oakland, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews