Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lakewood Shores, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair retains a long-term history of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair can indicate drug and alcohol use for up to around 3 months. Collecting hair samples is easy, tough to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to the size of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp is sufficient to produce 100mg of hair, which is perfect for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. It's recommended to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't an option, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be taken. Mention of head hair targets scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The processing of a drug test involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning starts with the initial entry of a specimen into the lab’s system. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and concludes any additional data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drug presence. Screening is a cost-efficient way to exclude drug use on the majority of specimens; however, any positive screen must be verified to be legally accepted. Samples that are likely positive during Screening require further confirmation.

If a presumptive positive result occurs in Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are separated from hair in concentrations much lower compared to other methods (e.g. urine or oral fluid). This complexity makes hair drug screening one of the most challenging techniques to execute.

Confirming any positive Screening outcome is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. Presumed positive specimens are washed before confirmation if necessary. The full lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, leading to more reliable outcomes.
• Provides usage history: It offers a pattern of drug consumption over time, beyond recent use only.

Limitations:

• Recent use undetectable: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become evident in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than other forms of drug testing.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing offers notable benefits over traditional urine tests in Lakewood Shores, IL. While urine tests only capture recent drug use, hair testing's detection accuracy spans far longer, typically up to 90 days. This ensures a comprehensive substance use profile that is superior in reliability. The accuracy and robustness of hair tests make them preferable in scenarios requiring extensive detection timelines.

Extended Detection Window

Lakewood Shores, IL sees an advantage in extended detection windows offered by hair follicle testing. Unlike other methods, hair tests reveal drug use up to 90 days prior, providing critical insights into an individual's substance history. Employers gain a fuller understanding of potential hires or current employees, aiding in making informed, safety-minded decisions that benefit their organizational culture.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Lakewood Shores, IL, hair follicle tests are recognized for their tamper-resistant nature. This method significantly lessens the risk of sample adulteration, providing results that are essentially impossible to alter. Employers receive reliable and unquestionable results, which fosters trust in their drug testing programs and ensures adherence to stringent safety protocols without concern for false outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient access to testing services is assured with nationwide and local centers in Lakewood Shores, IL. This network offers a straightforward, hassle-free experience, providing quick access to testing facilities. Whether seeking a test locally or in city locations across the nation, the process is streamlined, minimizing the time needed to secure necessary drug testing services efficiently and with ease.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process in Lakewood Shores, IL is designed to be simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and retrieving test results is straightforward, prioritizing client privacy and ease. All stages are crafted to ensure a stress-free experience, addressing common concerns about confidentiality. This careful approach encourages trust and adherence to testing policies while maintaining individual privacy standards.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, testing in Lakewood Shores, IL offers affordable solutions for companies of all sizes. Emphasizing value and swiftness, the process ensures that organizations receive results promptly without financial strain. This approach reinforces the commitment to providing excellent service quality while catering to the fiscal needs and operational timelines of diverse businesses.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Lakewood Shores, IL, hair follicle drug tests deliver fast, precise, and trustworthy results. These tests excel in detecting substance use with high accuracy, ensuring employers receive the most reliable data. The method leverages advanced processing to deliver timely results, providing necessary insights quickly and effectively. This precision allows employers to maintain optimal safety within the workplace.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Lakewood Shores, IL, hair follicle drug testing ensures compliance with workplace drug policies. By utilizing this method, companies reduce legal risks and enhance workplace safety, securing peace of mind. Providing thorough and trustworthy detection, hair follicle tests support a drug-free workplace, allowing businesses to maintain high safety standards and protect their workforce effectively.

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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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