Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Matherville, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a potent means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged timeline of drug and alcohol usage by encapsulating biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. When sourced close to the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use for up to about a three-month period. It's easy to collect hair, challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to send.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp ensures about 100mg, which is perfect for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or assessments beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. Using a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample is advisable. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be utilized. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning encompasses the initial processing of a sample into a lab's system. This process involves ensuring the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry not offered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of a swift assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive screen demands confirmation for court admissibility. Any samples testing presumptively positive in Screening require a secondary verification.

If a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at a considerably lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate method to conduct.

Confirmation for any positive Screening result is accomplished via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Challenges to deception: It is extremely challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over time rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect immediate use: It takes around 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth variations can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the hair follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

The benefits of hair follicle testing surpass traditional urine tests in Matherville, IL. Hair testing offers superior accuracy and reliability, giving it an edge over other testing methods. This preference stems from its ability to provide a longer detection window and less vulnerability to manipulation.

Compared to urine tests, hair follicle tests in Matherville deliver enhanced detection accuracy. Not only do they identify a broader range of substances, but they also reflect a longer drug history, offering employers more comprehensive insights.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Matherville, IL offers an extended detection window for drug use, covering up to 90 days. This long detection period provides employers with a detailed view of an individual's substance history, crucial for informed hiring decisions.

Employers benefit from the extended window offered by hair tests, which captures drug use histories not visible with shorter-term tests. This comprehensive insight supports effective workforce management strategies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Matherville, IL, hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method, significantly minimizing sample adulteration risks. This reliability ensures that results remain uncontested, providing peace of mind for those relying on them for critical decisions.

The robustness of hair tests against tampering makes them ideal for secure screening in Matherville. The inviolable nature of hair samples deters attempts to alter results, maintaining the integrity of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient nationwide testing locations, including in Matherville, IL. These centers make accessing drug testing services quick and easy, minimizing hassle for those requiring testing services.

Our widespread testing network simplifies the process for individuals and organizations, offering readily accessible

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Simple, Confidential Process

The simple, confidential process of hair testing in Matherville, IL, makes ordering, taking, and receiving test results straightforward. This ease is paired with rigorous privacy standards, addressing concerns and ensuring discretion throughout the testing journey.

Customers in Matherville enjoy a streamlined process; from booking to result retrieval, the focus remains on delivering a secure, user-friendly experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our affordable pricing in Matherville, IL, combined with fast turnaround times, provides excellent value for organizations of all sizes. This proactive approach ensures businesses can manage their drug testing needs effectively without stretching budgets.

Competitive pricing models align with our commitment to quality. In Matherville, quick results matched with cost-effectiveness ensure meeting strategic goals without compromise.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Matherville, IL, the precision of hair follicle drug testing excels, providing fast, accurate, and reliable results. This method is hailed for its ability to promptly and correctly identify substance use, making it a preferred choice for many organizations seeking dependable testing solutions.

This testing technique stands out for its capability to deliver results swiftly and accurately. Hair tests boast high detection rates, affirming substance use with precision and allowing employers to trust in their findings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Matherville, IL helps ensure compliance and peace of mind for employers. This method aligns with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks and enhancing the safety and productivity of the work environment.

Employers can rest assured about compliance when opting for hair testing. It promotes a drug-free workplace, reducing exposure to liabilities while safeguarding employee well-being.

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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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