Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Limestone, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures biomarkers within the strands, offering a history of alcohol and drug intake. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection window of up to 3 months for substances. The collection process is straightforward, resistant to tampering, and easily shipped.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising roughly 200 hair strands (similar to the width of a #2 pencil) from the scalp provides 100mg, which is ideal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. It is suggested to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent body hair sample can be used. When referencing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types like facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the first step, involving the integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This verifies the integrity of the sample sealing and shipping, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is an initial examination for substance abuse. Although it's a cost-effective approach for ruling out drug use in most specimens, a positive result must be confirmed for court admissibility. Samples with presumptive positives in Screening demand further confirmation.

For samples showing potential positives in the Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, substances are extracted at a much lower concentration than in other methods like urine or oral fluid, making hair testing one of the most challenging methodologies.

Positive Screening results are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives are washed before confirmation if needed. The complete process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: This method identifies drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection periods.
• Hard to manipulate: Attempts to cheat a hair drug test are challenging, ensuring higher accuracy.
• Historical consumption data: It reflects drug use patterns over some time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Recent use undetected: Drugs become noticeable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: This method is typically more costly than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration.

Note: Though sometimes called "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Limestone, IL
Hair testing surpasses traditional urine tests by offering superior detection for drug use. Its enhanced accuracy and reliability make it the preferred choice for comprehensive substance monitoring.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Limestone, IL
With hair follicle testing, the ability to detect drug usage spans up to 90 days—providing employers with a substantial overview of an applicant's or employee's history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Limestone, IL
Hair follicle tests drastically minimize the chance of sample tampering, ensuring results remain trustworthy and authentic, as tampering risks are nearly eliminated.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide and Local Testing Locations in Limestone, IL
Our extensive network of testing facilities guarantees quick access to testing services, offering convenience and ease in Limestone, IL.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Limestone, IL
The process of ordering, taking, and receiving hair follicle test results is straightforward and confidential, addressing privacy concerns effectively.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Rapid Turnaround in Limestone, IL
Our competitive pricing ensures excellent value, and our quick processing time provides fast results, catering to companies of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results Available in Limestone, IL
Hair follicle drug tests deliver precision in detecting substance usage, renowned for their rapid and reliable results. This testing method ensures individuals and businesses receive high accuracy consistently.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Limestone, IL
Implementing hair follicle testing helps businesses comply with drug-free policies, significantly reducing legal issues while fostering a secure work environment.

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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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