Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Oak Grove, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become regarded as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug use by securing biomarkers within the strands. When clipped close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to roughly three months for both alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, relatively challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising approximately 200 hair strands, similar in size to a #2 pencil, nearest to the scalp provides a 100mg sample, which is optimal for screening and confirmation processes. For EtG analyses, additions, or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. Utilizing a jeweler's scale, we recommend measuring the sample. Should scalp hair be absent, an equivalent volume of body hair can serve as a substitute. When referring to head hair, it specifically pertains to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of the sample's initial entry into a laboratory's system. This stage verifies that the sample was appropriately sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial, swift assessment for substances of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result must be substantiated to be admissible in legal proceedings. Samples with presumptive positive results from Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample yield a presumptive positive during Screening, more hair is extracted from the primary specimen and prepped for Extraction. Here, drugs are isolated at significantly lower concentrations than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening as one of the most challenging methodologies to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo a wash before confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, undergoes scrutiny under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection window.
• Hard to deceive: Hair drug tests are extremely difficult to falsify, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insights: They offer a usage pattern over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to be costlier compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variations: Individual factors like hair color and growth differences can influence metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the examination actually targets the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Oak Grove, IL, hair follicle testing proves superior to urine testing by offering unbeatable detection accuracy and reliability. Its capability to identify substances over more extended periods provides a comprehensive substance use history, making it a preferred choice for employers seeking thorough and dependable drug assessments.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Oak Grove, IL, is renowned for its ability to detect drug use over a much longer period, extending up to 90 days. This prolonged detection window offers employers a detailed insight into an individual's substance use history, supporting informed decision-making in the hiring process.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Oak Grove, IL, are a tamper-resistant method that significantly minimizes the risk of sample adulteration. This reliability ensures unquestionable test results, providing confidence to employers and institutions relying on drug testing for crucial inspections and compliance.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

The convenience of having nationwide testing centers, including local facilities in Oak Grove, IL, ensures swift and straightforward access to our services. This network of testing locations facilitates hassle-free testing, catering to both local and wider community requirements with ease and efficiency.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Oak Grove, IL, the hair follicle testing process is simplified and confidential, from ordering to receiving results. This discreet process addresses privacy concerns, allowing users to access secure and straightforward testing, ensuring comfort and ease of use for all involved parties.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing and quick turnaround times in Oak Grove, IL, make hair follicle testing an excellent choice. With competitive pricing structures, we deliver exceptional value, providing fast results that suit the needs of companies of all sizes, ensuring peace of mind with our services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug tests in Oak Grove, IL, are unmatched. They stand out for their high accuracy in identifying substance use over extended periods. This method ensures fast, reliable results, offering peace of mind to employers and other stakeholders requiring accurate drug testing solutions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle testing in Oak Grove, IL, instills compliance and peace of mind for employers. By aligning with workplace drug-free policies, it minimizes legal risks and enhances workplace safety. This rigorous approach is crucial for organizations committed to maintaining a secure and compliant environment.

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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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