Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Mulberry Grove, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair examination is now viewed as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers a historical record of drug and alcohol consumption by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a three-month window for detecting drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of roughly 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in size) nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is an optimal sample for screening and verification. For EtG, additional testing, and/or examinations exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to use 150mg of the sample. We suggest weighing the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't obtainable, a comparable amount of body hair may be utilized. When talking about head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four core stages in the lab process for a drug test result comprise Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning covers the initial processing of a sample into the laboratory's system. This task involves confirming that the sample is properly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and updating any further data not furnished by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary rapid check for prohibited drugs. Though Screening provides a cost-efficient approach to dismiss drug presence for the majority of samples, a positive result from this stage needs confirmation to be valid in legal contexts. Any samples that indicate a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further verification.

When a sample shows presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. This stage involves extracting drugs from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most complex method to conduct.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives undergo washing as required before confirmation. The entire laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation in addition to adhering to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Hard to deceive: It is remarkably challenging to falsify a hair drug test, ensuring more precise results.
• Offers historical insight: It can depict a drug usage pattern over time, not merely recent activity.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Mulberry Grove, IL is evident through its superior capabilities.

• Hair testing offers a longer detection window compared to urine testing.
• Accuracy and reliability are enhanced through a tamper-resistant procedure.

Extended Detection Window

The Extended Detection Window offered by hair follicle testing in Mulberry Grove, IL gives a comprehensive assessment of substance use.

• With the ability to detect drug use for up to 90 days, employers gain a detailed view of an applicant’s history.
• This extended window helps in evaluating long-term substance habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Offering a Tamper-Resistant Testing Method, hair follicle tests ensure accurate findings in Mulberry Grove, IL.

• The method is designed to significantly reduce the risk of tampering with the sample.
• Test results remain unquestionable and authentic.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations make it easy to access drug testing, including local presence in Mulberry Grove, IL.

• Testing centers are available nationwide, ensuring seamless and hassle-free service access.
• Strategically located centers reduce inconvenience for clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

Offering a Simple, Confidential Process, our hair follicle testing in Mulberry Grove, IL prioritizes user privacy and comfort.

• The procedure is straightforward and maintains confidentiality through secure protocols.
• Concerns about privacy are addressed thoroughly, providing users with peace of mind.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

We maintain Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround for our hair follicle testing services in Mulberry Grove, IL.

• Clients can expect competitive pricing structures.
• Quick turnaround times grant peace of mind and efficient decision timing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Mulberry Grove, IL enhance workplace safety by offering unsurpassed precision.

• The highly sensitive nature of hair follicle tests ensures that substance use detection is incredibly accurate.
• Results are delivered quickly, allowing employers to make well-informed staffing decisions with confidence.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Mulberry Grove, IL ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies.

• Using hair testing helps reduce legal liabilities and improve workplace safety.
• It provides peace of mind to employers, knowing their workforce is compliant with company policies.

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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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