Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Leland Grove, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures long-term use data by holding onto biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When snipped near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate 3-month detection period for both alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hairs (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the recommended quantity for testing and verification. For EtG, additional components, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. We suggest weighing the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be taken. When discussing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test is divided into four key phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary integration of a sample into the laboratory database. This phase ensures that the sample was secured and transported correctly, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a swift initial assessment for illegal substances. Although Screening is an economically sound method to rule out drug consumption in most cases, any positive results require confirmation for legal acceptability. All samples that test positive initially in Screening must undergo a follow-up confirmation.

If a sample tests positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. In this stage, substances are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a more challenging practice.

Positive Screening findings are verified using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples flagged positive are cleaned prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted in compliance with CAP (College of American Pathologists) standards and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can trace drug consumption for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: Hair drug tests are challenging to tamper with, which results in more reliable outcomes.
• Shows historical usage: It provides a drug use pattern over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs are detectable in hair only after about 5-7 days.
• Higher expense: Hair drug testing is often pricier compared to other methods.
• Result inconsistencies: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth differences can alter drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the procedure analyzes the actual hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Choosing hair follicle testing over urine tests in Leland Grove, IL, presents clear advantages. The former offers superior detection accuracy and reliability, capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days prior. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis resists tampering, ensuring consistent and trustworthy results for organizations seeking comprehensive evaluations.

Extended Detection Window

The hair follicle test in Leland Grove, IL, boasts an extended detection timeframe of up to 90 days. This elongated window gives employers a broader perspective on an individual's drug use history, far exceeding the few days typically covered by urine tests, making it a preferred choice for long-term assessment of substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Leland Grove, IL, is highly tamper-resistant, minimizing risks of adulteration. This robust method ensures that results are genuine and incontestable, providing peace of mind for those relying on drug tests to make informed decisions without the worry of manipulated samples.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures stress-free access to hair follicle tests with nationwide centers, including in Leland Grove, IL. Our convenient locations allow individuals and businesses to easily arrange tests, supporting swift and streamlined processes that adapt to your schedule.

Simple, Confidential Process

Ordering and undergoing hair follicle testing in Leland Grove, IL, is straightforward and confidential. The process is designed to be user-friendly, maintaining individuals' privacy while ensuring ease of use from appointment setup to receiving secure results, addressing typical privacy concerns effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times distinguish hair follicle testing services in Leland Grove, IL. These affordable options provide exceptional value, allowing companies of all sizes to benefit from fast, reliable drug testing without compromising quality or fiscal constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Leland Grove, IL, the efficiency of hair follicle drug testing is unparalleled. Known for its quick and precise results, this method assures high accuracy in detecting substance use across a broad spectrum of drugs. With streamlined procedures, hair tests eliminate delays, offering employers swift assessments that are reliable and thorough.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Leland Grove, IL employers, hair follicle testing enhances workplace compliance with drug-free policies, reducing legal liabilities. By offering a secure method to screen employees, businesses can maintain a safe work environment, safeguarding their operations and ensuring peace of mind.

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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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