Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Plato Center, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an influential method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a long-term record of substances by holding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair shaft. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period extending up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and uncomplicated to transport.

A 1.5-inch portion consisting of approximately 200 strands (around the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will produce 100mg, which is the optimal sample for examination and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments beyond 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advised. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not an option, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. In terms of head hair, we are specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair refers to other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key steps involved in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the starter processing of a sample into a laboratory’s system. This step includes ensuring that the sample was sealed and sent correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not given by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial rapid check for substances of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to discount drug consumption in the majority of samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be permissible in court. Samples that test presumptively positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

If a sample shows a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, more hair is taken from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a concentration much lower than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug analysis is the most challenging method to execute.

Verification of any positive screening outcome is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as required. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can identify drug consumption for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine assessments which have a more limited detection timeframe.
• Challenging to deceive: It is exceedingly difficult to manipulate a hair drug test, resulting in more precise results.
• Delivers historical information: It can demonstrate a pattern of drug usage over time, not merely recent activity.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: It typically requires 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments are typically more costly than other drug testing techniques.
• Variability in results: Elements like hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although commonly referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis itself focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Plato Center, IL

Hair follicle testing in Plato Center surpasses traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy and consistency. Unlike urine tests, which detect substances for a few days, hair follicle tests unveil patterns of long-term substance usage. This decisive method ensures greater reliability, ideal for employers aspiring to maintain a substance-free workplace.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Plato Center, IL

Employers seeking to evaluate an individual’s extended substance history prefer hair follicle testing due to its 90-day detection period. This test unveils a long-duration snapshot of a person’s drug use, providing a thorough overview for any employment decision or security clearance. This broader window ensures informed decisions based on a comprehensive substance use history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Plato Center, IL

The robustness of hair follicle testing hampers any attempts at sample tampering, delivering unquestionable results. Unlike other testing methods susceptible to deceit, hair samples capture precise drug usage data directly from the body, eliminating concerns about manipulated outcomes, proving ideal for ensuring test integrity and fidelity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Plato Center, IL

With our expansive network of testing centers, we ensure seamless access to hair follicle testing nationwide, including locally in Plato Center. This convenience facilitates quick, effortless testing procedures centered on flexibility and convenience for employers and individuals alike, simplifying the process substantially.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Plato Center, IL

Our hair follicle testing process prioritizes privacy and ease of use, starting from ordering through to obtaining results. The confidential nature of the test ensures personal data protection, while straightforward procedures facilitate user-friendly experiences for all clients, allaying worries about data privacy and testing transparency.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Plato Center, IL

We offer competitive pricing and quick processing times for hair follicle tests, offering superior value and added assurance for enterprises of every size. Our timely results maximize business efficiency, empowering prompt actions and fortifying the organizational decision-making framework effortlessly within budgetary constraints.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Plato Center, IL

The precision and swiftness of hair follicle testing in Plato Center provide unparalleled accuracy in pinpointing substance use. These tests effectively analyze a variety of substances with great reliability. Thanks to advanced technology, hair testing minimizes waiting times, offering dependable results that support critical decision-making for employers and organizations.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Plato Center, IL

Utilizing hair follicle testing enforces compliance with workplace drug-free policies, lessening legal risks while fostering a safe work environment. Employers benefit from the assurance of precise, comprehensive data that aid in informed decision-making. This proactive measure secures both employee safety and company integrity effortlessly.

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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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