Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Perry, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair assessments are recognized as an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged history of alcohol and drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the growing hair fibers. When gathered near the scalp, hair can offer up to a roughly three-month detection range for alcohol and substances. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively hard to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch specimen of around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the perfect sample for screening and validation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or more than 10-panel tests, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn’t present, an equivalent amount of body hair can be taken. When we mention head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Procedure Overview

The primary phases in laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning means the preliminary integration of a sample into a lab’s framework. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizes any supplementary data entry not included in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a rapid initial check for substance abuse. Though Screening offers a cost-efficient approach to exclude drug use for most samples, any positive screen must be corroborated for legal admissibility. Any presumptively positive samples require a follow-up confirmation.

In cases of presumptive positivity during Screening, additional hair is used from the original specimen and made ready for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at considerably lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is one of the hardest methodologies to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are purified prior to confirmation as necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair nomenclature and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection range: Hair drug tests detect substance use for up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter detection period of urine tests.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is exceptionally hard, thus ensuring more precise results.
• Accounts historical use: It shows a timeline of drug usage over time, not just immediate use.

Drawbacks:

• Incapable of identifying recent use: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Attributes like hair color and individual hair growth differences can affect drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis concerns the hair strand, not the follicle under the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Choose Hair Follicle Testing Over Urine Testing in Perry, IL? Hair follicle testing offers a range of benefits compared to traditional urine tests. With its superior detection accuracy and extended detection period, hair testing provides a more comprehensive view of substance use. This enhanced reliability makes it the preferred choice for employers, courts, and individuals seeking precise and trustworthy results.

While urine tests are common, they often fail when it comes to long-term detection. Hair follicle testing stands out with its ability to detect substance use over several months. This long detection window combined with a highly effective analysis process ensures that hair testing outperforms urine testing, providing organizations with the insights required to maintain drug-free environments.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Perry, IL: One of the prominent advantages of hair follicle testing lies in its ability to identify drug use over a longer period, typically up to 90 days. This extended window allows employers to obtain a comprehensive overview of an individual’s history with substances, surpassing the limitations of other testing methods that only cover a shorter timeframe.

For businesses looking to maintain a drug-free workplace, the comprehensive detection possibilities offered by hair follicle testing provide invaluable information to assess potential employees’ substance use. This testing delivers reliable insights into an applicant's or current employee's past usage habits, helping in informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Perry, IL, Tamper-Resistant Testing Methods have become a crucial aspect of maintaining reliability in drug screening. Hair follicle testing significantly reduces the potential for sample adulteration. Unlike other methods, where tampering is feasible, hair testing ensures unquestionable results by adopting a tamper-resistant approach, providing genuine authenticity in the outcomes.

The nature of hair follicle testing makes it extremely challenging to manipulate the results, thus promoting integrity in the testing process. Employers and legal professionals can trust in the robustness of hair testing methods to deliver credible and sound findings, facilitating decisions based on accurate data free from the risk of contamination.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Perry, IL residents can benefit from the convenient network of testing centers available nationwide. These locations ensure easy access to hair follicle testing services, offering a hassle-free experience for both individuals and companies seeking timely drug testing. With Accredited Drug Testing, accessing reliable testing services has never been more streamlined.

This extensive availability greatly simplifies the logistics of getting tested, reducing travel time and making testing accessible whenever it is needed. Whether local or traveling, individuals can benefit from the efficient nationwide coverage, ensuring they meet their testing needs without unnecessary stress or delays.

Simple, Confidential Process

Perry, IL offers a simple and confidential hair follicle testing process making it easy to order, take, and receive results. Privacy is a top priority, ensuring individuals and organizations can feel confident in the security of their data throughout the testing journey. Hair testing not only assures ease of use but also safeguards personal information, bolstering trust in the process.

The confidentiality of the entire procedure is maintained, starting from the moment of collection to the dispatch of detailed results. By providing a straightforward approach and focusing on protecting user information, this testing method addresses all concerns around privacy and operational ease, gaining trust from all stakeholders involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Perry, IL, Accessible Drug Testing stands out for its affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times. Companies of every size can benefit from this attractive cost structure while receiving exceptional value through fast, accurate results. Peace of mind is a given when investing in hair follicle testing, thanks to the competitive rates and swift service provided.

The quick results available through hair testing not only prove cost-effective but also ensure that employers receive the needed data to make timely, informed decisions. By balancing affordability with rapid service, hair testing meets the demands of businesses that require efficient and reliable screening solutions at suitable price points.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Perry, IL, is renowned for its speed and precision. It provides fast and accurate results, making it a top choice for identifying substance use. Thanks to advanced analysis techniques, individuals and employers can trust the high reliability offered by hair testing to deliver clear insights into drug use history with unmatched accuracy.

The reliable results of hair testing stem from its ability to screen for a variety of substances with high precision. From initial collection to the final delivery of results, the entire process is streamlined for efficiency and accuracy, ensuring that information is available swiftly to meet the needs of judicial decisions, employment screening, or personal assessments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing in Perry, IL offers employers compliance with drug-free workplace policies, providing peace of mind when maintaining safe work environments. By adopting this method, organizations can significantly reduce legal risks associated with drug usage and enhance overall workplace safety, securing a trustworthy business setting for all employees.

The use of hair testing demonstrates an organization's commitment to safety and provides comfort by ensuring that policies are upheld strictly and accurately. Employers can confidently implement these tests, knowing that they are utilizing one of the most reliable and legally compliant methods to keep their workforce productive and law-abiding.

Drug Testing Near Perry, IL

Oakdale, IL

Elkville, IL

Willisville, IL

Du Bois, IL

Vergennes, IL

Dowell, IL

Cutler, IL

Swanwick, IL

Du Quoin, IL

Tamaroa, IL

St. Johns, IL

Saint Johns, IL

Sunfield, IL

Pyatts, IL

Pinckneyville, 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