Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Marengo, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is simple to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg, which is the optimal sample size for analysis and validation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale is recommended for weighing the sample. If scalp hair isn’t available, a similar quantity of body hair may be utilized. Reference to head hair pertains to scalp hair specifically. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning includes the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s database. This step involves confirming the sample's proper sealing and shipping, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data input not supplied by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening offers an initial preliminary analysis for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in a legal context. Any samples indicating a preliminary positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If a specimen shows a preliminary positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is drawn from the initial collection and readied for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), thus making hair drug testing the most challenging procedure to execute.

Any positive result from Screening undergoes Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods. All samples indicating preliminary positives are cleaned before confirmation as required. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under the oversight of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a shorter detection timespan.
• Hard to manipulate: Hair drug tests are exceedingly challenging to compromise, leading to more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: It can illustrate a sequence of drug usage over time, not solely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot determine recent usage: Drugs become detectable in the hair in approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments tend to be pricier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result fluctuations: Elements such as hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: While commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When evaluating drug screenings in Marengo, IL, hair follicle tests offer considerable benefits over urine tests. They provide superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, the results from hair analysis are harder to manipulate and furnish clear insights into longer-term drug use history.

Extended Detection Window

Marengo, IL, benefits from hair follicle drug testing's ability to monitor substance use for up to 90 days. This extended detection window grants employers a thorough understanding of someone's substance history, an advantage over traditional testing methods revealing only short-term usage.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Marengo, IL, provide a more secure drug testing option by dramatically lowering the chance of sample adulteration. The procedure offers assured and credible results, preserving the integrity of tests compared to more traditional methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Marengo, IL residents have convenient access to Accredited Drug Testing's widespread testing centers nationwide. This accessibility guarantees rapid and easy access to services, alleviating any associated inconveniences and ensuring a hassle-free experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process at our Marengo, IL, location is straightforward and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving results, individuals can have peace of mind regarding privacy and simplicity, knowing that their data is handled with care and efficiency.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Marengo, IL businesses, no matter the size, can benefit from our competitive pricing structure and swift turnaround times. We offer excellent value, maintaining a balance between affordability and reliable service delivery for all clients.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Marengo, IL, hair follicle drug testing excels due to its precision and rapid turnaround in detecting substance use. Results are both fast and reliable, ensuring individuals and employers receive accurate data. This method outshines traditional tests by providing swift insights.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Marengo, IL, gain a sense of security by employing hair follicle tests for drug-free workplace compliance. This practice minimizes legal risks and heightens workplace safety, contributing to a more secure operational 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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