Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lakemoor, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized for its efficacy in identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extensive history of substance use by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When gathered near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a three-month usage period for alcohol and drugs. The collection process is straightforward, it's fairly resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

An ideal screening sample consists of a 1.5-inch section of about 200 hair strands (similar in width to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, yielding 100mg, perfect for screening and confirmation. For tests such as EtG, or if panels exceed 10, 150mg of the specimen is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing. In the absence of scalp hair, collect an equivalent amount of body hair. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing procedure for drug test results is comprised of four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning deals with the preliminary handling of a specimen within a lab’s system. It entails ensuring the specimen's seal and shipment integrity, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and filling in any data not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers a rapid assessment for substance misuse. Although it’s a cost-effective means of excluding drug presence in the majority of samples, a positive result on a screen must be verified for legal acceptability. Samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample test preliminarily positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the specimen and readied for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at a lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing notably challenging to execute.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that are preliminarily positive are cleaned prior to confirmation as required. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days before, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Tamper resistance: Cheating a hair drug test is especially challenging, resulting in more precise outcomes.
• Offers usage pattern: It illustrates drug usage trends over time, rather than recent use only.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent usage detection: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to manifest in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing typically costs more than other methods.
• Variability in results: Differences such as hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly mislabeled as "hair follicle tests", this test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Triumphs Over Urine Testing in Lakemoor, IL

Choosing a hair follicle test over traditional urine samples offers unmatched benefits in accuracy and reliability. While urine tests can detect drug use within a short window, hair follicle testing provides a broader scope. This means employers and institutions can depend on their results for sustained substance monitoring, ensuring their environments remain drug-free.

Extended Detection Window

Prolonged Detection Timeframe in Lakemoor, IL

Hair follicle tests offer an extended window of detection, spanning up to 90 days. For employers in Lakemoor, this means a detailed look into an individual’s substance history, aiding in making informed decisions. This extended period provides a more comprehensive picture than other methods, allowing for thorough assessments.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Securing Sample Integrity in Lakemoor, IL

The hair follicle testing method in Lakemoor significantly diminishes the possibility of tampering with samples. The inherent nature of the test ensures that results remain uncontaminated and trustworthy. This makes hair follicle tests an ideal choice for employers and organizations who prioritize accuracy and dependability in their substance monitoring processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience at Your Fingertips in Lakemoor, IL

Our network of nationwide testing centers includes convenient locations in Lakemoor, enhancing accessibility to our hair follicle testing services. This vast reach ensures that no matter where you are, you have a center close by, facilitating easy and efficient drug testing services for both employers and individuals.

Simple, Confidential Process

Confidential and Easy Process in Lakemoor, IL

With a streamlined process, clients in Lakemoor can expect simplicity and confidentiality when ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results. Our method ensures that privacy concerns are addressed, offering an easy user experience from start to finish, enhancing client satisfaction and trust.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective and Quick Solutions in Lakemoor, IL

Our testing services in Lakemoor are designed to be budget-friendly while delivering swift results. The competitive pricing, paired with fast turnaround times, provides exceptional value, making it accessible for companies of all sizes to implement comprehensive drug testing without breaking the bank.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and Speed in Lakemoor, IL

Hair follicle drug testing in Lakemoor offers a fast, accurate, and reliable means of identifying substance use. Its precision is unmatched, making it a preferred method for detecting recent and long-standing drug issues. The rapid processing ensures that results are both timely and dependable, significantly boosting the confidence of those relying on these evaluations for critical decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Ensure Compliance and Safety in Lakemoor, IL

For employers in Lakemoor, employing hair follicle testing methods guarantees adherence to drug-free workplace policies. It reduces legal exposure and promotes a safe work environment. By committing to this testing approach, companies can foster workplace peace of mind, knowing they are protected against legal and health risks.

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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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