Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mossville, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When sourced near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period extending up to roughly three months for alcohol and various drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A segment of approximately 1.5 inches, containing around 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the preferred sample for both screening and verification. For EtG, supplemental tests, and/or screenings exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It is suggested to use a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is not an option, a comparable quantity of body hair is a viable substitute. In mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. The term body hair encompasses all other hair forms (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary phases in the lab analysis of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the early processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This process involves ensuring that the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and executing any further data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening serves as an initial rapid check for drug presence. Although Screening offers a budget-friendly means to discount drug usage in the bulk of samples, a positive result in Screening mandates confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples preliminarily positive require subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are withdrawn from hair at much lower concentrations than in other processes (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring why hair drug testing is considered a challenging methodology to implement.

Confirmation for any positive findings from Screening occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples deemed presumptively positive are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug analysis can reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a narrower window.
• Challenging to falsify: Tampering with a hair drug test is extremely tough, enhancing result accuracy.
• Supplies historical insights: This test can display a pattern of substance use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become noticeable in hair after around 5-7 days.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur higher costs than other screening methods.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite concentration in hair can be influenced by factors such as hair color and personal hair growth differences.

Note: Despite the common term "hair follicle tests", the examination is conducted on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When it comes to drug testing in Mossville, IL, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests in several aspects. Hair samples provide unparalleled accuracy, detecting substances efficiently.

The primary advantage lies in the extended detection window compared to urine samples. This ensures a more reliable overview of past drug use, reinforcing the trust in hair testing as the preferred method.

Extended Detection Window

In Mossville, IL, hair follicle testing excels with its ability to identify drug use over an extensive period of up to 90 days. This feature offers employers a more comprehensive look at one's substance history.

The prolonged detection window is particularly beneficial for organizations looking to maintain a drug-free workplace, ensuring a thorough assessment of potential or current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests, available in Mossville, IL, are acknowledged for reducing the risk of sample tampering. The methodology ensures that samples remain uncontaminated, resulting in more reliable conclusions.

By minimizing the chances of adulteration, these tests provide unquestionable results, reinforcing trust and confidence in drug testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Mossville, IL, we offer a network of convenient testing facilities across the nation. Our widespread centers ensure swift and hassle-free access to high-quality testing services.

The ease of accessibility to our testing locations makes the process seamless for both individuals and employers looking for reliable drug testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our drug testing process in Mossville, IL, is straightforward and confidential. From ordering a test to receiving results, we prioritize privacy and ease, ensuring client concerns are addressed comprehensively.

The simplicity of our protocol removes potential barriers, making it easy for users to navigate through testing with minimal stress.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

We offer highly competitive pricing for hair follicle testing in Mossville, IL, complemented by rapid turnaround times. Our services aim to provide great value and assurance for companies of various magnitudes.

By focusing on affordability, we ensure businesses receive quality service without compromising on speed or accuracy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Mossville, IL, hair follicle drug testing stands out for its speed and precision. This method guarantees an accurate read on substance use, combining swift procedures with dependable results.

Offering impressive accuracy, hair testing can effectively detect a range of substances, ensuring comprehensive results for individuals and employers alike. Its reliability in uncovering substance use is unmatched.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Mossville, IL, hair follicle testing supports compliance with drug-free policies, mitigating legal risks. This reliable testing bolsters workplace safety effectively.

By integrating hair testing, businesses can ensure they are adhering to regulations, ultimately fostering a safer working environment for all employees.

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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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