Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Loxa, IL

What it is, How it works

The use of hair testing for detecting drug and alcohol usage has gained recognition as an effective method. Hair can reveal long-term drug and alcohol histories by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When sampled close to the scalp, hair offers approximately a 3-month window for detecting alcohol and additional substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, and it's somewhat resistant to tampering, making it convenient for transportation.

A 1.5-inch hair sample, roughly 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil), taken nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal quantity for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent volume of body hair may be obtained. "Head hair" specifically refers to scalp hair only, whereas "body hair" includes all other types of hair (such as facial and axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedures for processing a drug test result include four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a sample within a laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample was appropriately sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any required data entry not supplemented by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial, rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. While it offers an economical means of ruling out drug usage in most samples, any positive results from a screen must undergo confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening require additional confirmation testing.

If a Screening result is presumptively positive, additional hair is extracted from the sample and readied for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are isolated from hair at substantially lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), highlighting why hair drug testing is the most challenging methodology to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screen result is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples testing presumptively positive are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes scrutiny under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a more limited detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, ensuring greater result accuracy.
• Profiles historical usage: Hair tests can outline usage patterns over time, rather than just reflecting recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: Drugs typically take approximately 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to cost more than other methods of drug testing.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Even though frequently called "hair follicle tests", the testing analyzes the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Choose Hair Follicle Testing Over Urine Tests?
In Loxa, IL, hair follicle testing provides a more reliable and accurate assessment of substance use compared to traditional urine tests.

• Extended detection period up to 90 days
• Difficult to cheat
• Observed collection method

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window with Hair Testing
Located in Loxa, IL, our hair follicle tests can reveal drug use over a prolonged period, giving employers insight into an individual's substance use history.

• Look back period of up to 90 days
• Comprehensive overview for employers
• Valuable for background checks

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secure Hair Follicle Testing Method
Hair follicle tests in Loxa, IL, reduce the risk of tampering and adulteration, ensuring sample integrity.

• Reliable and tamper-resistant
• Eliminates sample adulteration concerns
• Provides trustworthy results

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations Nationwide
With testing centers throughout the nation and in Loxa, IL, we ensure easy accessibility for your testing needs.

• Nationwide presence
• Effortless access to services
• Local testing options

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple and Private Hair Testing Process
Our straightforward and confidential testing procedure in Loxa, IL, ensures peace of mind for all clients concerned about privacy and ease of service.

• Easy process from start to finish
• Guaranteed confidentiality
• Quick and efficient service

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-effective Testing with Quick Results
We offer competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in Loxa, IL, providing exceptional value for businesses of all sizes.

• Competitive rates
• Fast delivery of results
• Value for large and small companies alike

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Precision and Speed in Hair Follicle Testing
In Loxa, IL, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their remarkable accuracy and swiftness. These tests are highly efficient in detecting substance use, offering employers and institutions prompt, trustworthy results they can rely on.

• High detection accuracy
• Fast results turnaround
• Reduces uncertainty in the testing process

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Maintaining Compliance and Safety
In Loxa, IL, using hair follicle testing is an important step for employers to ensure they adhere to drug-free workplace policies, safeguarding their enterprises from potential legal complications.

• Enhances workplace safety
• Ensures policy compliance
• Reduces legal 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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