Hair Follicle Drug Testing - New Athens, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair offers an extended timeline of alcohol and drug consumption by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can deliver approximately a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. It's straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for testing and confirmation. For EtG, additional screenings, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We advise weighing the sample with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, we are specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key stages involved in processing a drug test result in a lab include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary processing of a sample within a lab’s system. This procedure includes confirming that the sample was properly sealed and sent, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any extra data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. While Screening offers a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage for most samples, a positive screen must be validated to be permissible in legal settings. Any samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening demand a further confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening stage, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepared for Extraction. In this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations significantly lower than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleaned before confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review 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 period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, as opposed to urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Difficult to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insights: It can illustrate a pattern of drug use over a period rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the levels of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though commonly termed "hair follicle tests", the examination actually analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in New Athens, IL

In New Athens, IL, hair follicle tests are increasingly seen as superior to urine tests. While urine tests identify recent usage, hair tests provide a comprehensive longer-range view of drug use history. This makes hair testing more reliable for employers and legal authorities.

Hair testing's primary advantage lies in its extended detection period of up to 90 days, compared to the few days urine tests cover. This accurate and detailed insight ensures that employers and other authorities can make more informed decisions.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in New Athens, IL

Hair follicle testing provides an exceptional detection window of up to 90 days, allowing employers in New Athens, IL to gain a thorough understanding of an employee's or applicant's substance use history. This extended timeframe surpasses traditional methods, offering a broader perspective.

This comprehensive assessment enables better decision-making, whether for hiring, retaining staff, or ensuring workplace safety. Employers benefit from understanding wider patterns of behavior than simply recent substance use.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in New Athens, IL

In New Athens, IL, hair follicle tests are noted for their resistance to tampering. Unlike other methods, the likelihood of sample adulteration is greatly minimized with hair testing, ensuring results that are both reliable and beyond reproach.

This tamper-proof nature bolsters the credibility of drug screening processes, providing employers and legal bodies with greater assurance in the results obtained compared to urine or other testing methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in New Athens, IL

Accredited Drug Testing offers widespread convenience with its extensive network of nationwide centers, including easy access in New Athens, IL. This ensures that individuals and businesses have hassle-free access to necessary testing services.

The widespread distribution of centers means testing can be scheduled with minimal delay, providing accessibility and convenience for both individuals and corporate clients alike, ensuring efficient service delivery.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in New Athens, IL

For those in New Athens, IL, the process of arranging, conducting, and obtaining results from hair follicle testing is kept straightforward and confidential, ensuring privacy and ease at all stages.

With an emphasis on discretion, individuals can engage in testing procedures with confidence, knowing their personal information remains protected throughout the process, and results are communicated securely.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in New Athens, IL

In New Athens, IL, Accredited Drug Testing stands out with competitive pricing and quick turnaround times, offering excellent value for organizations of any size. Our structure ensures access to top-tier testing services without financial strain, maintaining high standards at reasonable costs.

Quick results enhance decision-making efficiency, allowing companies to operate smoothly and maintain substance-free environments promptly following testing.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in New Athens, IL

Hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their precision and quick turnaround, setting the benchmark in substance detection. In New Athens, IL, these tests are favored for their capability to accurately pinpoint drug use, ensuring both individuals and organizations receive fast and reliable results.

The robust nature of hair testing ensures that results are not only swift but consistently dependable. Unlike traditional methods, hair tests minimize delays, providing immediate clarity and peace of mind for all stakeholders involved.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in New Athens, IL

Employers in New Athens, IL can ensure compliance with drug-free policies using hair follicle tests, which significantly reduce legal risks while enhancing workplace safety. This testing method provides essential peace of mind, knowing that standards are upheld consistently.

Hair testing offers employers the dual benefit of reducing the likelihood of substance misuse in the workplace while aligning with official regulatory requirements, maintaining both safety and compliance.

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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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