Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Martinton, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments are increasingly recognized as a robust approach for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair encapsulates a long-term record of alcohol and other substances by encasing biomarkers within the fibers of the evolving hair strand. Upon collection near the scalp, hair can offer up to an approximately 3-month period of detection for alcohol and drugs. It's easy to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Measuring the sample with a jeweler’s scale is recommended. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent volume of body hair might be used. When we mention head hair, we refer specifically to scalp hair only. Body hair pertains to other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial handling of a sample into a lab's system. This step entails ensuring the sample was properly sealed and shipped, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data inputs absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary review for drugs of abuse. Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in the majority of samples; however, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in legal settings. Any samples showing a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are drawn from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other procedures (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex procedure to execute.

Confirmation of any positive Screening outcome is performed with techniques such as GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results undergo washing before confirmation as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and its accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug tests can recognize drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans.
• Hard to fake: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely challenging, increasing accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It reveals a pattern of drug use over duration, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair roughly 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Martinton, IL, hair follicle testing outshines more traditional urine testing methods, offering superior detection accuracy and reliability. This method ensures a comprehensive overview of substance use that urine tests simply cannot match, providing peace of mind for employers and legal entities.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Martinton, IL, boasts an extended detection window, capable of revealing drug use over a 90-day period. This feature gives employers deep insights into an applicant or employee's history of substance use, far beyond what urine tests can offer.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method in Martinton, IL, is highly tamper-resistant, significantly minimizing the risk of sample adulteration. This ensures that the test results remain both reliable and beyond dispute, strengthening the integrity of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Martinton, IL, the convenience of our nationwide testing centers is emphasized, ensuring straightforward and hassle-free access to necessary testing services. This accessibility facilitates quick testing processes and services.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Martinton, IL, is designed to be simple and confidential. From test ordering to receipt of results, we prioritize privacy and ease of use, addressing any concerns regarding discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in Martinton, IL, our testing services deliver substantial value and reassurance. This ensures peace of mind across companies of various sizes, fostering a reliable testing ecosystem.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Martinton, IL, are unmatched, offering a reliable method for detecting substance use. These tests not only provide high accuracy, they also deliver results swiftly, making them an ideal choice for timely assessments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Martinton, IL, helps employers comply with drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks and promoting safety. This testing method supports a culture of accountability and security, benefitting both employers and employees.

Drug Testing Near Martinton, IL

Iroquois, IL

Crescent City, IL

Ashkum, IL

Aroma Park, IL

Chebanse, IL

Hopkins Park, IL

Clifton, IL

Sammons Point, IL

Watseka, IL

Saint Anne, IL

St. Anne, IL

Donovan, IL

Beaverville, IL

Pittwood, IL

Papineau, IL

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews