Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mackinaw, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments have emerged as an impactful method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug usage by securing biomarkers within the fibers of growing strands. When obtained near the scalp, hair can exhibit a detection timeframe of up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is effortless to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment, comprising roughly 200 hair strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's thickness) closest to the scalp, provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for screening and verification. For EtG, supplementary, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is advised. Should scalp hair be unavailable, the same quantity of body hair can be utilized. Reference to head hair implies scalp hair solely. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory examination process of a drug test result consists of four main phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary incorporation of a specimen into a lab’s system. It involves verifying proper sealing and shipping of the specimen, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any other data entry not furnished by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial fast check for drug abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening mandate a secondary confirmation.

For a sample preliminarily positive in Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), which renders hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Confirmation for any positive screening result is conducted using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All preliminary positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation in line with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter window.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating on a hair drug test is quite difficult, ensuring greater accuracy in results.
• Offers historical data: It reveals a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to ascertain recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be costlier compared to other methodologies.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolites’ concentration in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Mackinaw, IL, hair follicle testing is proving superior
to traditional urine testing methods.
Unlike urine tests, hair tests offer
a substantially extended detection window,
providing results with greater accuracy and durability.
This gives employers and professionals
a more reliable means of monitoring substance use.

Extended Detection Window

When it comes to tracking drug use,
hair follicle testing in Mackinaw, IL stands out
with its extended detection period, up to 90 days.
This enables a comprehensive understanding of
an individual's substance history,
offering employers a detailed account of an applicant
or employee's long-term behaviors.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Mackinaw, IL, the adoption of hair follicle testing
significantly lowers the chances of sample tampering.
The method ensures dependable and credible results,
thanks to its tamper-resistant nature.
This rigorous testing approach guarantees
unquestionable outcomes,
providing confidence to all stakeholders involved.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our conveniently located nationwide centers,
including Mackinaw, IL,
ensure that drug testing is both
quick and hassle-free.
With accessible locations,
individuals and companies can easily
leverage our services,
benefiting from a seamless testing experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Seamless and Confidential
describes our testing process in Mackinaw, IL.
From ordering to receiving results,
the entire procedure ensures privacy,
addressing any concerns about confidentiality
and ease of use.
This process reassures all users
of its straightforwardness and security.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Mackinaw, IL, our competitive pricing
coupled with quick results
provides unbeatable value for companies of any size.
Affordable options and expedited turnaround
reinforce our commitment to
delivering excellent services, offering peace of mind for organizations looking
for cost-effective solutions to substance testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Reliable hair follicle drug testing is available in Mackinaw, IL. This testing method
offers impressive speed and exceptional accuracy,
making it a preferred choice for many.
Swiftly executed, it provides organizations and individuals with
accurate detection of substance use,
ensuring only the most precise results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Mackinaw, IL
assures firms meet their drug-free commitments
in the workplace.
This method greatly reduces legal challenges,
fostering a culture of safety and compliance,
ultimately offering employers
a sense of security and peace of mind.

Drug Testing Near Mackinaw, IL

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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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