Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lancaster, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is highly regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair holds a comprehensive history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of developing hair. Collected from near the scalp, hair can provide an approximately 3-month detection period for alcohol and various drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (approximating a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred specimen for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional analyses, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair may be obtained. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair. "Body hair" includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for drug test results includes four crucial stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial input of a sample into the lab’s system. This entails confirming that the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary swift analysis for drugs of concern. Though Screening efficiently eliminates drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates validation to be permissible in court. Samples presumptively positive in Screening require additional verification.

For samples indicating a presumptive positive at the Screening stage, more hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction preparation. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair in significantly lower concentrations than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex technique to execute.

Any positive screening results undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation as needed. The entire lab sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests that provide a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to circumvent: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, ensuring more precision of results.
• Gives past usage pattern: It reveals a trend of drug use over time, beyond recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect immediate use: It requires roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become discernible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more compared to other drug evaluation methods.
• Inconsistencies in outcomes: Variables such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests," these tests analyze the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Lancaster, IL
Hair follicle tests surpass traditional urine tests by offering superior accuracy in detection. While urine tests are limited to recent use, hair tests reveal a longer, comprehensive history of substance use. This makes them indispensable in environments with zero-tolerance policies, as they provide an unmatched reliability.

Due to these strengths, entities ranging from employers to legal systems prefer hair tests for their robust, trustworthy outcomes, helping to uphold policies against substance abuse effectively.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Lancaster, IL
Hair follicle tests boast an extended detection window, capturing drug use over up to 90 days. This extensive period provides employers with a broader overview of an applicant or employee's history, influencing informed hiring decisions.

For employers prioritizing transparency and comprehensive drug policies, this longer detection span offers invaluable insights, aiding in the maintenance of a safe and reliable work environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Lancaster, IL
The integrity of hair follicle tests is rooted in their resistance to tampering. This method ensures that sample adulteration is virtually eliminated, providing results that stakeholders can rely on confidently. As the testing is conducted under strict observed conditions, the chances of falsifying results are significantly minimized.

Such reliability is imperative for workplaces aiming to enforce stringent drug-use policies, ensuring accountability and trustworthiness in the screening process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Lancaster, IL
Our extensive network of nationwide testing centers ensures accessibility and convenience in Lancaster, IL. With numerous local facilities, obtaining a hair follicle test is a seamless, hassle-free process.

Clients benefit from easy access, reducing time and effort required. This widespread availability is designed to simplify the testing procedure, fostering a stress-free experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Lancaster, IL
The testing process with hair follicle screenings is both simple and confidential. From the initial order to receiving the results, steps are straightforward, maintaining privacy for all parties involved.

Concerns regarding confidentiality are addressed through secure systems, making it convenient yet discreet, thus ensuring peace of mind throughout the testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Lancaster, IL
Our hair follicle testing services are competitively priced, offering excellent value across businesses of all sizes. The quick turnaround time ensures results are delivered promptly, supporting rapid decision-making.

Employers appreciate the cost-effective solutions provided, which do not compromise quality, offering efficient services without burdensome expenses.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Lancaster, IL
The hair follicle drug test is renowned for its precision and rapid results. By analyzing samples from candidates or employees, it swiftly identifies drug presence with remarkable accuracy. This quick process substantially reduces waiting time, enabling swift decision-making based on dependable data.

This testing method notably trims down the margin for error, ensuring that any trace of substance use is detected without delay. Employers appreciate the efficiency, trusting the results to maintain workplace integrity and safety.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Lancaster, IL
For employers, utilizing hair follicle testing aligns with maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This approach mitigates legal risks and fosters a secure work setting, promoting employees' peace of mind.

Employers gain assurance in knowing their anti-drug policies are upheld effectively, aiding in the organization’s reputation for safety regulations and commitment to a drug-free environment.

Drug Testing Near Lancaster, IL

Dunfermline, IL

Manito, IL

South Pekin, IL

Bellevue, IL

Bartonville, IL

Canton, IL

North Pekin, IL

Pekin, IL

Limestone, IL

Hanna City, IL

Banner, IL

Lake Camelot, IL

Mapleton, IL

Kingston Mines, IL

Glasford, IL

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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