Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Omaha, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective method to uncover alcohol and drug consumption. The hair retains a history of various substances by encapsulating biomarkers within its growing strands. When collected near the scalp, hair analysis can offer a potential 3-month window of detection for substances like alcohol. Its collection process is straightforward, tampering is challenging, and it is convenient for transportation.

A 1.5-inch portion of roughly 200 hair strands (similar to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp equates to 100mg, which is considered optimal for screening and validating results. For EtG, enhancements, and/or assessments over 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing is suggested. If scalp hair isn't accessible, a similar measure of body hair may be utilized. References to head hair specifically denote scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

In Accessioning, a sample is initially integrated into a lab’s system. This phase ensures the sample is properly sealed and dispatched, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addresses any extra data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for substances. Though cost-effective for eliminating drug use in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation for legal admissibility. Samples indicating positive during Screening undergo a secondary confirmation process.

Should a sample yield a presumptive positive result in Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at reduced concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most challenging methodology.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every sample testing positive undergoes a wash before confirmation as warranted. The whole laboratory sequence, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is subjected to review under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation in line with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter period of detection.
• Hard to deceive: The difficulty in falsifying hair drug tests leads to more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: Hair drug testing can reveal a drug use pattern, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair in approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other testing techniques.
• Result variability: Differences such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", this testing examines the hair shaft rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why opt for hair follicle tests over traditional urine tests in Omaha, IL? The answer lies in superior detection accuracy. Hair tests are less susceptible to manipulation, ensuring more trustworthy results.

Unlike urine tests with short detection periods, hair testing conveys a broader evaluation of substance use history, offering unmatched reliability for employers and legal authorities.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Omaha, IL serves as a decisive tool for employers wanting a complete overview of an employee's drug use over the past 90 days.

This comprehensive insight aids in making informed hiring and retention decisions, crucial for maintaining workplace standards.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Omaha, IL is renowned for its tamper-resistant nature. It significantly mitigates risks associated with sample adulteration that often compromise urine testing reliability.

Employers and legal practitioners benefit from unquestionable results that hair tests provide, elevating the credibility of the screening process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide testing network, including Omaha, IL, offers convenient access to drug testing services. Strategically located centers ensure quick and effortless testing processes.

This widespread availability of locations takes the hassle out of scheduling and attending drug assessments.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Omaha, IL is both simple and confidential, ensuring your privacy from testing to results.

Ordering, undergoing, and receiving results is streamlined, providing ease of use without compromising discretion.
Concerns about data security are addressed with utmost importance.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With affordable pricing and fast turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Omaha, IL offers >exceptional value for businesses of any size.

Efficient processing ensures that companies quickly receive reliable results, promoting informed, timely decision-making.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Omaha, IL is lauded for its rapid and precise results. Highly accurate in detecting a range of substances, it offers a reliable approach that both employers and individuals can trust.

With quick processing times, hair tests deliver speedy outcomes that are crucial for timely decision-making in employment and legal scenarios.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Incorporating hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal complications and enhancing Omaha, IL's workplace environment safety.

This method provides peace of mind as it systematically addresses substance abuse concerns, supporting a secure and productive work setting.

Drug Testing Near Omaha, IL

Enfield, IL

Raleigh, IL

Muddy, IL

Shawneetown, IL

Wasson, IL

Equality, IL

New Haven, IL

Broughton, IL

Eldorado, IL

Herald, IL

Ridgway, IL

Norris, IL

White City, IL

Norris City, IL

Cottonwood, IL

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews