Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Oakwood, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a highly effective method for identifying substance use involving drugs and alcohol. The hair strands capture biomarkers within their fibers, offering a retrospective timeline of these substances over several months. When clipped near the roots, hair can indicate alcohol and other drug usage over a period of about three months. Hair samples are straightforward to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A segment of hair, measuring 1.5 inches and comprising about 200 strands (similar to a #2 pencil in size), will yield 100mg, which is considered optimal for both screening and validating results. For comprehensive testing like EtG, additional panels beyond 10, 150mg of the sample should be collected. Using a jeweler’s scale is advisable for precise weighing. In cases where scalp hair is not available, equivalent amounts of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" specifically pertains to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types, such as facial or axillary hair.

Process Overview

The drug testing laboratory process involves four pivotal stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial integration into the lab's system. This step ensures the sample's sealed and safe shipping, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any remaining data entry absent from an electronic custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drug presence. It serves as an economical approach to detect drug use in most samples, though any positive findings require confirmation for legal acceptance. Samples showing potential drug presence in Screening need further verification through secondary testing.

A sample that tests presumptively positive during Screening leads to extracting additional hair from the original sample for the Extraction stage. Here, the process isolates drugs at lower concentrations compared to methods like urine or oral fluid tests, which explains the complexity of hair drug testing.

Subsequent Confirmation of any positive screening is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Necessary washing of the samples occurs before confirmation of presumptive positives. Adherence to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards is maintained throughout the lab's processes from Accessioning to Confirmation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair testing can trace drug use up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection span.
• High resistance to tampering: The difficulty in altering hair test results enhances accuracy.
• Historical use patterns: It reveals patterns of drug consumption over time, not solely recent use.

Limitations:

• Recent use undetectable: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become apparent in hair samples.
• Higher cost: The expense of hair drug testing surpasses other testing methodologies.
• Result variance: Factors such as hair pigmentation and personal growth rates can alter drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", this test assesses the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Oakwood, IL, hair follicle testing is proving to be more effective than traditional urine tests. Offering greater detection accuracy and reliability, hair tests uncover substance use patterns over a longer duration, giving employers and courts the credible insights they require to make informed decisions compared to the limited window provided by urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Unlike other methods, hair follicle testing in Oakwood, IL, provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This gives employers a comprehensive overview of an individual's substance history, ensuring transparency and a better understanding of their habits. Such insights are valuable in assessing long-term behavior and making informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests significantly reduce tampering risks in Oakwood, IL. This method is designed to be tamper-resistant, making it difficult to alter or adulterate samples. The test's inherent reliability allows for unquestionable results, ensuring that every test conducted provides a true reflection of substance use without manipulation.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our convenient nationwide testing centers, including local facilities in Oakwood, IL, ensure easy access to drug testing services. This extensive network allows for quick and hassle-free testing experiences. Whether for individual needs or larger organizations, our locations provide efficient solutions wherever you are.

Simple, Confidential Process

Accredited Drug Testing in Oakwood, IL, offers a simple and confidential process for ordering and taking tests. From starting the procedure to receiving results, every step guarantees privacy and ease of use, addressing your concerns while maintaining discretion throughout the entire process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

We provide affordable pricing and fast turnaround for hair follicle testing in Oakwood, IL. Our competitive rates and rapid results ensure excellent value, accommodating companies of all sizes. This approach offers peace of mind, assuring that your testing needs are met economically and efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Oakwood, IL, stands out for its precision and speed. Known for their high accuracy, these tests quickly detect substance use, offering results that are both fast and dependable. Employers and individuals can rely on this method to provide a clear and detailed account of drug usage, ensuring that decisions are based on accurate information.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Oakwood, IL, ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies. By reducing legal risks and enhancing workplace safety, employers gain peace of mind. This method aligns with stringent regulations, providing assurance that employees adhere to company standards for a safer, more productive 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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