Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lake Summerset, IL

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair for testing is now recognized as an effective approach for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and substance usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to nearly 90 days for both alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient for transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hairs (comparable in size to a #2 pencil) adjoining the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, serving as the perfect sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG augmentation, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, a sample weight of 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for accurate weighing. If scalp hair cannot be collected, an equivalent volume of body hair is acceptable. When mentioning head hair, this specifically means scalp hair. In contrast, body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

During Accessioning, a sample undergoes its initial entry into the lab’s system. This step checks if the sample was correctly sealed and sent, designates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishes any extra data input not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening represents a preliminary check for potential drug abuse. While Screening offers a cost-efficient method to negate drug consumption in most samples, any positive screening must be confirmed for court validity. Samples appearing positive during Screening necessitate an additional confirmation step.

Once a sample is flagged as positive in Screening, additional hair from the original sample is used for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at a lower concentration compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing quite challenging to execute.

Positive screening outcomes are verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples marked as positive receive a cleansing before confirmation if necessary. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire laboratory process is scrutinized under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can reveal drug usage up to 90 days back, unlike urine tests with shorter detection timelines.
• Challenge to evade: Cheating on a hair drug test is very challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Offers historical insights: It is capable of illustrating a trend of drug use over time, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Lacks detection of recent use: It generally takes about 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing often incurs higher costs compared to other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly known as "hair follicle tests", this test actually evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Lake Summerset, IL, hair follicle testing outperforms urine tests in several ways. This method features superior detection accuracy, allowing for more reliable results over traditional urine tests.

The advantages include a longer detection window and challenging the possibility of tampering, making hair follicle testing the choice for stringent screening protocols.

Extended Detection Window

One significant advantage of hair follicle testing in Lake Summerset, IL, is its extended detection window. Spanning up to 90 days, it provides a comprehensive review of an individual’s substance history.

This lengthy observation period assist employers in making informed decisions, reflecting an applicant's or employee's behavioral patterns more accurately than other tests might allow.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

A key strength of hair follicle testing in Lake Summerset, IL, is its resistance to tampering. It combats the risk of sample tampering, ensuring that results are reliable and authentic without question.

This reliability means peace of mind for employers seeking foolproof testing methods to uphold workplace integrity and compliance.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key for testing in Lake Summerset, IL, and Accredited Drug Testing offers nationwide testing centers for easy access. Local residents can experience our hassle-free services conveniently.

With multiple centers throughout the nation, opting for our testing services means quick, seamless access, ensuring you can undergo testing with minimal disruption to your schedule.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Lake Summerset, IL, our drug testing process is straightforward and confidential. From order placement to sample collection and receiving results, the process upholds user privacy.

This clarity in execution ensures that concerns regarding privacy are addressed, making the testing process an approachable and user-friendly experience for all participants.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Lake Summerset, IL, offers competitive pricing and quick turnaround times. Our cost-effective solutions provide businesses of any size great value.

With these affordability features, companies reap the benefits of efficient testing processes, ensuring both fiscal savings and confidence in rapid, accurate results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Lake Summerset, IL, stands out for its speed and accuracy. The precision of these tests in catching substance use ensures that results are reliable and trustworthy.

Focusing on promptness, this method delivers results that maintain a high standard of accuracy, enabling quick decision-making for employers and individuals.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Lake Summerset, IL, hair follicle testing aids employers in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks, and fostering a safer working environment.

By choosing this testing method, businesses ensure adherence to policy standards, ultimately contributing to the cultivation of a drug-free and secure workplace atmosphere.

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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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