Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lacon, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly regarded as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended historical view of alcohol and drug usage by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair. When collected nearest the scalp, hair can reveal up to a roughly three-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is ideal. It is advisable to measure the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be acquired. When mentioning head hair, it refers to scalp hair solely. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The process for analyzing a drug test sample in the laboratory encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial intake of a sample into a lab's system. This includes confirming the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not covered by an electronic custody chain system.

Screening serves as a preliminary examination for substances of abuse. Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug use for the majority of specimens, but a positive result requires verification to be valid in legal settings. Any samples that test presumptively positive in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this step, substances are removed from hair at much lower concentrations than via alternative methods (ex. urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing the most rigorous methodology to conduct.

Verification of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All presumptive positive specimens undergo cleansing before confirmation if needed. The entire lab process, from Accessioning through Confirmation, is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage up to 90 days, while urine tests have a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to falsify: It is notably challenging to deceive a hair drug test, increasing result accuracy.
• Supplies historical information: It can reveal a timeline of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: It typically takes 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expensive: Hair drug tests are generally pricier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Aspects such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Lacon, IL. Hair testing offers a superior alternative to traditional urine tests with higher accuracy and longer detection windows. Employers and agencies searching for assured results can rely on hair tests as they provide a broader perspective on an individual’s substance use, reducing the chances of deception and increasing policy compliance.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Lacon, IL. Hair follicle testing stands out with its ability to detect drug use for up to 90 days. This extensive detection period offers employers an in-depth view of an individual's substance consumption history, far beyond traditional testing methods. Such a prolonged window ensures a more comprehensive assessment of prospective or current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Lacon, IL. Hair testing minimizes the risk of sample manipulation, ensuring the credibility and authenticity of results. Due to the observed collection process, it becomes exceedingly difficult to alter a hair sample. This feature makes hair testing a trustworthy option for those seeking reliable drug screening mechanisms.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Lacon, IL. With an array of easily accessible testing centers spread across the nation, accredited drug testing facilitates swift and stress-free testing services. Individuals and companies in Lacon can benefit from these well-situated centers, ensuring no logistical hurdles impede obtaining necessary tests.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Lacon, IL. Our streamlined and discreet procedure ensures ease of use at every stage, from ordering a test to receiving results. Ensuring privacy and comfort for all participants, our process addresses the concerns of confidentiality, allowing for a worry-free testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Lacon, IL. Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing with quick turnaround times, delivering exceptional value for businesses of all sizes. This dual focus on affordability and speed provides peace of mind, making it a favorable choice for any organization requiring reliable drug screening solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests provide fast, precise, and consistent results in Lacon, IL. The technology behind hair testing ensures high-level accuracy when detecting drugs, offering near-infallible reliability. This precision allows employers, courts, and other stakeholders to make informed decisions based on dependable data. The process is efficient, ensuring quick turnaround and minimal disruption to routine activities.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Lacon, IL. Adopting hair follicle drug testing enables employers to maintain drug-free workplaces, aligning with compliance standards while minimizing legal exposure. Establishments benefit from enhanced safety and productivity, knowing their workforce adheres to company policies through rigorous and reliable testing practices.

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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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