Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Maquon, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair retains a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the hair shaft as it grows. When hair is collected close to the scalp, it can reveal a detection window of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat difficult to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A sample of approximately 1.5 inches in length, containing about 200 hair strands (about the diameter of a #2 pencil) taken nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, which is ideal for analysis and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding ten, it is advisable to collect 150mg of the specimen. It is recommended to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair is acceptable. When mentioning head hair, we exclusively refer to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four essential steps in the lab processing of drug test results: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary incorporation of a sample into a lab's system, including checking that the sample is sealed and properly shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening performs an initial expeditious test for drugs of abuse. Though Screening is a cost-effective strategy to rule out drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be verified for legal acceptability. Samples that test presumptively positive during Screening require subsequent confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive at the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and set aside for Extraction. In this step, drugs are extracted from hair at a considerably lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug screening one of the most challenging methodologies.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcomes is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples that are presumptively positive undergo requisite washing before confirmation. The entirety of the lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed in line with the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug tests have the capacity to detect drug use for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests, which offer a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty in deception: It is extremely challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, thus enhancing the reliability of the results.
• Historical insight: Hair testing can reveal a trend of drug usage over a period, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are often pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Results variability: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth variations can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: While commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand itself, not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Surpasses Urine Testing in Maquon, IL is evident due to its superior accuracy and reliability. As opposed to conventional urine tests, hair testing provides a comprehensive look into an individual's drug use history, making it an invaluable choice for rigorous screening processes.

A step beyond urine tests, hair follicle testing guarantees higher detection accuracy, enabling organizations to make informed decisions.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection in Maquon, IL is a predominant benefit of hair follicle testing, which can uncover drug use reaching up to a 90-day span. This broad timeframe provides employers an in-depth perspective of an applicant or employee's drug consumption patterns.

Such extensive detection capability allows for an all-encompassing assessment of substance history, offering peace of mind to decision-makers.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Proof Testing in Maquon, IL significantly minimizes risks associated with sample adulteration. Hair follicle tests are collected under observation, deterring any potential attempts at manipulation and ensuring the integrity of the results.

This method’s resilience against tampering provides institutions with trustworthy data, eliminating doubts associated with sample authenticity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Nationwide Reach and Local Access in Maquon, IL make drug testing convenient. Our extensive network of testing centers enables swift, straightforward access to testing services, reinforcing our commitment to ease and efficiency.

With our widespread facilities, clients can find a local solution, ensuring they never have to go far for seamless drug testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple and Private describes our drug testing process in Maquon, IL. A streamlined procedure from ordering to obtaining results maintains confidentiality while providing simplicity, addressing privacy concerns.

Our approach prioritizes ease and discretion, ensuring users experience an untroubled, confidential testing journey.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing and Prompt Results characterize our offerings in Maquon, IL. Our budget-friendly pricing and quick turnaround times provide businesses, regardless of size, with excellent value and reassurance.

This approach ensures affordability without compromising on the quality of service or the speed of result delivery.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Maquon, IL boasts rapid and precise hair follicle testing. By opting for this method, you gain access to quick and accurate insights into substance use, providing an edge in drug detection endeavors.

Our testing facilities prioritize precision, ensuring every test you conduct reflects high accuracy, thus providing you with reliable results whenever needed.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Assurance for Employers in Maquon, IL is achieved with hair follicle testing, ensuring adherence to drug-free workplace policies. By mitigating legal risks and fortifying workplace safety, this testing regime provides employers not only compliance but also peace of mind.

Incorporating this testing helps maintain a secure environment and reinforces compliance with required standards.

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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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