Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Northlake, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analyses have become a robust means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the extending hair strand. When harvested near the scalp, it can offer up to nearly a 90-day detection window for alcohol and drugs. Collection is straightforward, it's relatively challenging to tamper with, and shipping is convenient.

A segment measuring 1.5 inches, approximately 200 hair strands (equivalent to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, further tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is suggested. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is not present, an equal quantity of body hair can be obtained. When we mention head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other varieties (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The essential stages in the laboratory analysis of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary integration of a sample into a laboratory’s infrastructure. This process verifies the appropriate sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random Laboratory Accessioning Number (LAN), and completes any supplemental data input absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical approach to dismiss drug presence in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be valid in a legal context. Samples that are initially positive in Screening necessitate a secondary validation.

Should a sample yield a presumptive positive result during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. At this point, drugs are drawn from hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), highlighting why hair drug screening is the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens undergo washing prior to confirmation as required. The comprehensive lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug analyses can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, as opposed to urine analyses, which combine a shorter detection period.
• Difficulty to manipulate: Tampering with a hair drug test is notably challenging, leading to more reliable outcomes.
• Yields historical insights: Offers a trajectory of drug consumption over an extended timeframe, rather than immediate use.

Drawbacks:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become discernible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug analyses are often pricier compared to alternative testing techniques.
• Result variability: Influences such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can affect metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests," the actual analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not on the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Choosing hair follicle testing over urine tests in Northlake, IL offers several advantages. Hair testing provides a broader detection window, ensuring reliable and comprehensive screening. Urine tests, while traditional, lack the same extended detection capability, potentially missing longer-term drug use.

Hair follicle testing is renowned for its superior detection accuracy, easily surpassing urine tests. This testing method offers reliable results for Northlake, IL employers seeking comprehensive substance use histories, adding a layer of security over urine testing.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing offers an extensive detection window of up to 90 days, crucial for employers in Northlake, IL. This longer period allows a detailed view of an individual's substance history, ensuring a comprehensive screening process and a fuller picture of substance use over time.

In Northlake, IL, hair testing provides significant insights into an applicant or employee's past drug use. The extended detection window not only covers a more extended timeline but also ensures substance history is captured in unmatched detail, assisting in better-informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Northlake, IL have significantly reduced the risks associated with sample tampering. This testing method provides reliable and unquestionable results, deterring attempts at cheating and ensuring the integrity of the screening process through its tamper-resistant nature.

Thanks to its resistant nature, the hair test offers a tamper-proof option in Northlake, IL. Unlike other methods, this test takes the worry out of drug screening manipulation, ensuring each result's reliability and accuracy, crucial for employers and legal requirements.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Located conveniently in Northlake, IL, our testing centers offer easy access to drug testing services nationwide. With widespread facilities, Accredited Drug Testing ensures hassle-free, swift access to both the testing and result process, making it simpler than ever for clients and employers alike.

Accessing drug testing services in Northlake, IL is straightforward, thanks to our multitude of local and national testing locations. Committed to customer convenience, we provide an effortless process from testing to result delivery, ensuring peace of mind every step of the way.

Simple, Confidential Process

With a focus on simplicity and confidentiality, our testing process in Northlake, IL is streamlined for privacy and ease. From ordering to result acquisition, we emphasize a confidential yet straightforward procedure, addressing privacy concerns and the need for a user-friendly experience seamlessly.

Our Northlake, IL-based drug testing service guarantees a simple, confidential process. Understanding privacy importance, we facilitate easy ordering and result acquisition, ensuring straightforwardness and discretion for all clients. The entire procedure has been refined to cater to users' comfort and security.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Northlake, IL offers competitive pricing alongside fast turnaround times. Our services provide excellent value, catering to the needs of companies of all sizes while reinforcing financial sensibility. Balancing cost and efficiency is our priority, ensuring clients receive prompt results.

Enjoy affordable, fast drug testing services in Northlake, IL. Our pricing structure competes with similar providers, offering quick turnarounds for rapid decision-making. This value proposition ensures companies, regardless of size, don’t sacrifice quality for affordability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Delivering rapid, precise results, hair follicle drug testing in Northlake, IL ensures high accuracy when it comes to detecting substance use. Hair tests allow for the swift identification of drug presence, setting a standard of reliability unmatched by other methods. This accuracy guarantees peace of mind for both employers and clients needing assured outcomes.

In Northlake, IL, hair testing offers not only speed but also the reliability of results needed for crucial decision-making. The method’s accuracy makes it a preferred choice for those whose biggest concern is the correct identification of substance use, offering a consistent and dependable solution.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Northlake, IL supports workplace compliance with drug-free policies. This testing approach reduces legal risks, enhancing workplace safety and assuring employer peace of mind. The reliability and accuracy contribute to a solid defense against any allegations of non-compliance.

In Northlake, IL, employers enjoy the assurance of decreased legal exposure and a safer workspace through hair follicle testing. This method fortifies compliance with standards and policies regarding drug use, easing worries and promising reliable, consistent results for all parties involved.

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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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