Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pittsburg, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-standing record of alcohol and drug use by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When taken near the scalp, hair offers close to a 3-month observation period for alcohol and drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

An ideal sample comprises a 1.5-inch portion of around 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, yielding 100mg of hair, suitable for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or those exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is suggested. We advise utilizing a jeweler's scale to weigh the sample. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar amount of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, it refers solely to scalp hair, whereas body hair includes other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for analyzing a drug test result involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary handling of a sample within a laboratory’s system. This step involves ensuring the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. While cost-effective in ruling out drug use for most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be court-admissible. Samples with presumptive positive results in Screening require secondary confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial amount and prepared for Extraction. This phase involves extracting drugs from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most complex methodology.

Any positive outcomes from Screening are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before Confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended observation window: Hair drug tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to falsify: Cheating on a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Historical usage data: It provides a record of drug use over time, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are often pricier than other types of drug tests.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and personal differences in hair growth might impact the levels of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests," the analysis actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Pittsburg, IL, opting for hair follicle testing over urine testing highlights its benefits. Hair testing excels in identifying substance presence due to its superior detection accuracy and reliability, giving employers a reliable alternative.

The extended detection period hair tests offer, reaching up to 90 days, ensures no recent substance use goes unnoticed, setting it apart from traditional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

In Pittsburg, IL, hair follicle testing offers an extended detection window, surpassing other methods by tracing substance use up to 90 days. This feature provides a comprehensive insight into an individual’s drug history.

The long-term detection capability enables employers to assess the substance background of employees or applicants, ensuring informed hiring and business decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests significantly thwart tampering efforts, assuring reliable outcomes in Pittsburg, IL. Hair sampling minimizes the risk of adulteration, providing results that are both valid and unquestionable.

The inherent design of hair testing makes it a trustworthy method, reducing the likelihood of sample manipulation and safeguarding test integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With accessible testing centers nationwide, obtaining drug tests remains convenient in Pittsburg, IL. Our network ensures hassle-free and swift access to testing services.

Discover the ease of our widespread locations, providing seamless testing solutions that cater to various needs efficiently and effectively.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Pittsburg, IL, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. Ease of ordering, administering, and receiving results assures privacy while addressing concerns around confidentiality.

Participants can enjoy a straightforward experience without compromising on security, making testing a user-friendly endeavor.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and quick turnaround make our services appealing in Pittsburg, IL, providing affordable options for all-sized businesses.

The cost-effective nature and speed of hair follicle testing ensure value for money, bringing peace of mind to companies with diverse testing demands.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Accuracy and prompt results mark the significance of hair follicle drug tests in Pittsburg, IL. Hair testing delivers precise detection of substances, addressing the demand for efficient testing solutions with quick turnaround times.

Employers benefit from the timely and reliable results that hair follicle tests provide, fostering trust in testing outcomes and decision-making processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing contributes to compliance with drug-free workplace policies in Pittsburg, IL, offering peace of mind to employers. This method reduces legal risks and bolsters workplace safety measures.

Employers gain assurance in maintaining drug policy adherence, enhancing the overall work environment and ensuring a secure and compliant workforce.

Drug Testing Near Pittsburg, IL

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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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