Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Olympia Fields, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. The hair captures a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the growing hair strand’s fibers. When gathered near the scalp, it offers an estimated 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, tampering is relatively hard, and it is uncomplicated to ship.

Obtaining a 1.5-inch hair sample, equivalent in size to a #2 pencil from the scalp, provides approximately 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels over 10, 150mg of the sample is recommended. It’s advisable to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, an equal volume of body hair is acceptable. When referencing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning signifies initially registering a sample within a lab’s system. It encompasses ensuring the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary quick assessment for drugs of abuse. While it’s a cost-efficient measure to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be legally valid. Samples that are presumptively positive during Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

When a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is separated from the original specimen for Extraction. Here, drugs are removed from hair at comparatively lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Any positive screening results are confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and adheres to ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can trace drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is notably challenging, thereby enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It elucidates a drug use pattern across time, rather than reflecting just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It typically takes 5-7 days for substances to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is performed on the hair strand directly, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Triumphs Over Urine Testing in Olympia Fields, IL Hair follicle testing offers numerous advantages over traditional urine analysis. Its accuracy and reliability in detecting substances are far superior, making it invaluable for employers and legal systems alike. This testing method ensures a more precise evaluation, especially ideal for enforcing zero-tolerance policies.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Olympia Fields, IL Hair follicle testing provides an extensive detection window, capturing drug use history over a remarkable duration of up to 90 days. This aspect supplies employers with a comprehensive insight into an applicant or employee's substance activities, facilitating informed decisions based on a broader snapshot of one's drug use patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing in Olympia Fields, IL Hair follicle tests offer a significant advantage through their resistance to tampering. This robust method minimizes sample adulteration risks, thereby ensuring results are authentic and trustworthy. Both individuals and organizations prioritize such integrity, protecting the testing process from interference and maintaining impartiality.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Centers Nationwide and Locally in Olympia Fields, IL Benefit from our widespread network of testing centers nationwide, including local hubs in Olympia Fields, IL. This extensive reach guarantees accessible, streamlined, and minimally disruptive testing services for our clients, accommodating their schedules and logistics efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

Streamlined, Confidential Procedures in Olympia Fields, IL Experience an effortless and discreet process with our hair follicle testing. From ordering tests to sample collection and result dissemination, privacy is paramount, ensuring user comfort and ease of access. We prioritize confidentiality and simplicity to deliver a hassle-free experience for all involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective and Speedy Services in Olympia Fields, IL Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, our hair follicle testing services provide exceptional value. Companies of various sizes appreciate this combination of affordability and efficiency, ensuring that comprehensive drug testing is within reach without compromising on speed or accuracy.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Olympia Fields, IL, hair follicle drug tests stand out for their fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests excel due to their precision in identifying substance use, offering high-level accuracy unseen in other methods. Individuals and employers alike benefit from swift and dependable outcomes, making hair follicle testing a preferred choice for discerning drug usage across various environments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Assurance for Employers in Olympia Fields, IL Utilizing hair follicle testing supports compliance with drug-free workplace policies, mitigating legal risks while enhancing safety. Employers gain the confidence that their workplaces adhere to necessary regulations and standards, providing peace of mind and safeguarding against potential liabilities associated with substance misuse.

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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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