Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Patterson, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. By capturing biomarkers within the strands as hair grows, it reveals a comprehensive timeline of substance use. When the hair is collected near the scalp, it can provide an observation period of up to 90 days for alcohol and similar substances. Collecting hair is easy, it's not easy to tamper with, and is simple to transport.

Taking a 1.5-inch sample, roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the girth of a #2 pencil) near the scalp offers 100mg of hair, which is optimal for initial screenings and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additional assessments, or tests beyond 10 panels, a sample size of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a corresponding volume of body hair can be used. By 'head hair', we mean only scalp hair. 'Body hair' is any other kind of hair (like facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the introductory phase where a sample is logged into a lab’s systems. This includes ensuring the sample's seal and shipment are intact, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and addressing any further data entry that an electronic custody system might not cover.

Screening offers a preliminary analysis for potential drugs. While cost-effective for eliminating drug presence in most samples, a positive screen necessitates confirmation to be court-admissible. Presumptive positives from Screening must undergo a further confirmation step.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the primary sample for the Extraction stage. This phase extracts drugs from hair in significantly lower concentrations compared to urine or oral fluid analyses, making hair drug testing particularly challenging.

Confirmatory testing of any positive screen is carried out using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Necessary washing of presumptive positive samples occurs before confirmation. The comprehensive review of the laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is conducted under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and in line with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing traces drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a brief detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Attempting to circumvent hair drug tests is challenging, ensuring more reliable results.
• Reveals usage trends: It outlines a timeline of drug usage over time, rather than merely recent activity.

Limitations:

• Doesn’t show recent usage: Drugs are only detectible in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are mostly pricier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and individual hair growth differences might influence drug metabolite concentration within the hair.

Note: This test is often termed a "hair follicle test", but it actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing with traditional urine testing in Patterson, IL, the former stands out due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests can detect drug use over longer periods, reducing the opportunity for cheaters and yielding more consistent results. The sophisticated nature of hair testing offers a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's drug use history.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Patterson, IL, sets it apart from other drug testing methods, covering up to 90 days of drug use history. This long-term insight allows employers to gain a thorough understanding of an applicant or employee's substance patterns. Such extensive detection capability provides a more accurate assessment of an individual's suitability for a job or compliance with company policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Patterson, IL, significantly diminishes the possibility of sample tampering, delivering secure and reliable results. The test's inherent design makes it nearly impossible to adulterate or substitute samples, ensuring that the outcomes are authentic and trustworthy. This tamper-resistant approach instills confidence in employers and individuals alike, promoting an environment of fairness and accuracy.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing facilities nationwide, including local centers in Patterson, IL, accessing hair follicle drug testing services is both simple and convenient. Accredited Drug Testing offers an expansive network that allows for swift and hassle-free testing experiences, ensuring that needs are met promptly, regardless of location. This widespread availability enhances accessibility and flexibility for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

The straightforward and confidential process for ordering hair follicle tests in Patterson, IL, addresses privacy concerns while ensuring ease of use. Accredited Drug Testing guides you through the simple steps, from scheduling your test to receiving results efficiently. This seamless approach reassures clients of their confidentiality, making the testing experience stress-free and reassuring.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Patterson, IL, provides excellent value with competitive pricing and quick turnaround times. Whether for small businesses or large corporations, the affordable pricing structure ensures cost-effectiveness without compromising on quality or speed. This blend of affordability and efficiency makes hair follicle testing accessible and beneficial for companies of all sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Patterson, IL, hair follicle drug testing provides fast and accurate results, boasting high-level precision in identifying substance use. The streamlined process ensures that results are delivered promptly, making it an ideal choice for those needing quick and reliable drug testing solutions. The unmatched accuracy of hair follicle tests helps individuals and organizations make well-informed decisions based on trustworthy data.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Patterson, IL, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with workplace drug-free mandates, minimizing legal risks and enhancing safety. Implementing such testing mechanisms provides peace of mind, knowing that employees are held to the highest standards of safety and ethics. This rigorous approach helps create a secure and productive working 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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