Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mettawa, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair evaluations are increasingly recognized as an effective means to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands serve as a historical record of alcohol and drug usage, encapsulating biomarkers within their growing fibers. When obtained near the scalp, hair can offer up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to gather, moderately resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A sample length of 1.5 inches and consisting of roughly 200 strands (equivalent to a #2 pencil's girth) from the scalp produces 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for screening and validation. For EtG and additional tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferred. We advise using a jeweler’s scale for verification. If scalp hair is not present, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When specifying head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

Four critical phases are part of the lab processing for a drug testing outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial integration into the laboratory system. This encompasses confirming proper sealing and shipping, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening offers a preliminary investigation for abuse substances. While cost-effective for dismissing drug use in most samples, a positive screening result must be verified for court compatibility. Samples that presumptively test positive in Screening require secondary validation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at much lower concentrations compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex technique.

Confirmation of any positive screening is conducted via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positives undergo a washing procedure before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug screenings can identify substance use for up to 90 days, compared to the shorter timeframe of urine tests.
• Minimal tamperability: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing the accuracy of the results.
• Chronicling usage: It outlines a history of drug consumption over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Recent use detection: It requires about 5-7 days before drugs become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be pricier than other testing techniques.
• Result inconsistencies: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Frequently called "hair follicle tests," this test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests in Mettawa, IL, reveals distinct advantages. Hair testing offers superior detection over more extended periods, while urine tests are limited by shorter detection windows. Hair tests also excel in reliability, minimizing risks of adulteration, making them a preferred choice for accurate substance detection in professional settings.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window offered by hair follicle testing in Mettawa, IL, provides unmatched insight into an individual's drug use history. Employers gain a comprehensive view of an applicant's or employee's past substance exposure within a 90-day period, ensuring informed decision-making based on a thorough understanding of potential substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Mettawa, IL, stand out as a robust method due to their resistance to tampering. Unlike other testing methods that are vulnerable to sample adulteration, hair testing provides reliable, unquestionable results, reducing the chance of cheating and ensuring that outcomes are accurate and trustworthy for decision-making processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With nationwide and local testing centers in Mettawa, IL, the process of accessing drug testing services has never been more convenient. These centers allow for a streamlined testing experience, eliminating unnecessary hassles and ensuring that individuals and employers can rely on swift, accessible testing at their location.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simplicity and confidentiality of the hair follicle testing process in Mettawa, IL, provide ease of use for all involved parties. The procedure from ordering to obtaining results respects privacy concerns, reassuring test takers that their personal information is handled discreetly while ensuring efficient test administration and outcome delivery.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Mettawa, IL, offers attractive pricing and quick turnaround times, making hair follicle testing a cost-effective option. Companies of various sizes benefit from our competitive rates and rapid results, ensuring they obtain excellent value alongside reliable services that meet high-quality standards.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Mettawa, IL, those seeking rapid results with high precision can rely on hair follicle drug testing. This method guarantees reliable outcomes, detecting substance use with impressive accuracy. Not only does it streamline the testing process, but it also ensures that results are delivered swiftly, providing peace of mind for both employers and individuals relying on its efficiency.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Mettawa, IL, affords employers peace of mind in maintaining compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This method helps mitigate legal risks and promotes a safer work environment, ensuring that the workforce adheres to corporate standards of conduct while respecting applicable regulations.

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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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