Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Kinsman, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of drug and alcohol intake by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When taken near the scalp, hair can present a detection timeframe of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair sampling is easy to perform, typically hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample of hair 1.5 inches in length, consisting of about 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil), will yield 100mg, which is the perfect amount for screening and verification. For tests like EtG, add-ons, or those exceeding 10 panels, a sample size of 150mg is advised. It's suggested to measure the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, body hair in an equivalent quantity can be used. "Head hair" implies only scalp hair, whereas "body hair" covers all other types like facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The core phases in processing drug test results in the lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial stage involving the integration of a sample into the laboratory’s system. This step ensures the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary review for drug abuse indications. Though it’s a cost-efficient method for dismissing drug presence in most samples, a positive screening result must be confirmed to be valid in court. Samples that are tentatively positive during Screening must undergo a further confirmation step.

If a sample shows a presumed positive in the Screening phase, further hair is extracted from the original batch for the Extraction phase. During Extraction, drugs are extracted from the hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging method to execute.

Positive results in the screening process are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Any sample testing positive is carefully washed before confirmation if necessary. The entire procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is thoroughly assessed under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is aligned with ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: It’s extremely challenging to falsify hair drug tests, thereby ensuring the precision of outcomes.
• Offers usage history: Provides an overview of drug usage patterns over time, not solely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent use detection: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly after 5-7 days.
• Pricing: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than other methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual growth variations can impact drug metabolite concentration levels in hair.

Note: Despite often being termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Kinsman, IL
Hair follicle testing offers superior detection capabilities compared to traditional urine tests. Unlike urine tests that provide a snapshot of recent usage, hair tests present a comprehensive overview of substance use over an extended period. This enhanced accuracy and reliability make hair testing an optimal choice for thorough drug screening in the Kinsman area.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Kinsman, IL
One of the standout features of hair follicle testing is its ability to detect drug use over a long period – up to 90 days. This long-term detection feature allows employers in Kinsman, IL to gain a detailed understanding of an individual’s substance history, ensuring a well-informed hiring or retention decision-making process.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Kinsman, IL
Hair follicle tests significantly diminish the likelihood of sample tampering, delivering results that are both reliable and unquestionable. In Kinsman, IL, this method offers peace of mind, knowing that the testing process is secure and the outcomes are dependable, ensuring authenticity and trust in the results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Kinsman, IL
Our expansive network of testing centers ensures easy access to testing services for residents and businesses in Kinsman, IL. With locations nationwide, our facilities offer convenience and efficiency, making it straightforward and hassle-free for anyone needing a hair follicle test to locate and utilize our services, near and far.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Kinsman, IL
Conducting a hair follicle test is both simple and private. From ordering the test to receiving the results, the process is designed to maintain confidentiality and user-friendliness, addressing privacy concerns effectively. Individuals in Kinsman, IL can trust this process to be straightforward and secure, ensuring peace of mind at every step.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Kinsman, IL
We provide competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, offering great value for businesses of all sizes in Kinsman, IL. Our affordable hair follicle testing not only ensures cost-effectiveness but also rapid result delivery, supporting efficient and effective decision-making in a timely manner.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Kinsman, IL
Hair follicle drug tests provide swift and highly accurate detection of substance use. These tests outshine traditional methods with their speed and precision, ensuring quick and dependable results. In Kinsman, IL, individuals and organizations can rely on hair tests to swiftly identify substance presence, thus facilitating timely decision-making processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Kinsman, IL
Employers in Kinsman, IL can enhance workplace safety and compliance with drug-free policies through hair follicle testing. By reducing potential legal risks, businesses can maintain a safer environment with the assurance that they are meeting regulatory standards and promoting a culture of accountability and 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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