Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Oakdale, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has evolved into an essential resource for identifying alcohol and drug use. Hair strands capture a chronological record by preserving biomarkers within their fibers as they grow. If taken from near the scalp, it can reveal substance use history for up to three months. Collection is straightforward, it's relatively tamper-proof, and it can be sent easily.

A 1.5-inch section containing around 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) gives about 100mg of hair, which is the preferred quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is suggested. The sample should be weighed with a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, the same amount of body hair should be used. When mentioning head hair, this specifically refers to scalp hair only, while body hair includes all other types such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

There are four primary stages in processing a laboratory drug test: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In Accessioning, a specimen is initially logged into the lab's system. This involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and sent, giving it a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and adding any extra data not captured by digital custody systems.

Screening is conducted to quickly detect drug abuse indicators. Although it offers a cost-effective approach to eliminate drug presence in most cases, a confirmed result is required for legal disclaimers. Any samples initially deemed positive in Screening must undergo further confirmation.

For samples preliminarily marked positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are isolated from hair at far lower levels compared to other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the more challenging methods to perform.

Confirmation of any initial positive result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS methods. Prior to confirmation, all preliminary positive samples are cleansed as necessary. The entire lab process from beginning to end is evaluated under the guidelines of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days back, whereas urine tests cover shorter time frames.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is quite challenging, ensuring high accuracy in results.
• Shows usage trends: It reveals drug use patterns over time instead of just current use.

Limitations:

• Lacks immediacy: Drugs only become detectable in hair after 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal growth rates can alter drug metabolite concentrations within hair.

Note: Though often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis examines the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When examining hair vs. urine testing in Oakdale, IL, hair follicle analysis offers superior advantages. Hair tests boast extended detection periods, giving a clearer reflection of an individual’s substance history compared to urine tests. The reliability in the accuracy of hair follicle results surpasses traditional methods, making them the preferred choice for those seeking comprehensive and precise drug screening.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing provides a prolonged detection window in Oakdale, IL, showcasing drug usage history up to 90 days. This extensive timeframe delivers valuable insights into an individual's long-term substance use, enabling employers to better assess potential employees. The extended detection capacity ensures that a comprehensive view of drug use patterns is visible, far beyond what conventional tests offer.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Oakdale, IL, hair follicle testing is renowned for its tamper-resistant methodology. These tests significantly lower the chances of sample adulteration or substitution, providing results that are robust and unquestionable. The inherent nature of hair collection, coupled with vigilant observation protocols, ensures that any opportunity for tampering is minimized, ensuring confidence in outcome integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous convenient testing locations nationwide and in Oakdale, IL, accessing drug testing services is easy and hassle-free. Accredited Drug Testing provides widespread testing centers, ensuring that individuals and businesses can quickly find a nearby facility. This widespread network guarantees accessibility, making the testing process smooth and efficient for all involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Oakdale, IL, remains simple and confidential. From ordering the test, through the sample collection, to receiving results, privacy and ease are prioritized. This streamlined process ensures that all participants feel secure in their privacy, while confidently obtaining the information they need without unnecessary complications.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Oakdale, IL, offers affordable pricing paired with fast result turnaround times. Our competitive pricing model ensures that businesses of all sizes obtain exceptional value for their investment. Quick turnaround on test results further enhances client confidence, as they receive vital information promptly, assisting in timely decision-making.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests shine in Oakdale, IL, due to their fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests offer a high precision rate for substance detection, identifying drug use through their advanced analytical methods. To maintain high standards, the testing process efficiently delivers results, ensuring stakeholders receive the necessary insight promptly. Turnaround times are optimized to provide quick feedback while retaining meticulous accuracy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Oakdale, IL, can achieve compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. This testing method aids in upholding drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal liabilities, and promoting a safer work environment. By employing hair tests, companies demonstrate their commitment to a clean standard, fostering a secure and dependable workplace culture.

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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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