Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Plattville, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair tests are now recognized as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended record of alcohol and drugs by holding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. Collecting hair near the scalp allows for a detection timeline of up to nearly three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment with approximately 200 hair strands (roughly matching the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for testing and verification. For EtG, additional panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample weight of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler’s scale, we recommend measuring the sample. When scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be obtained. References to head hair pertain solely to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Procedure Overview

The primary four stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the primary processing of a sample into a lab’s framework. This entails confirming the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a non-specific LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any extra data entries not detailed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening constitutes an initial rapid examination for substances of abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug usage in most samples, a positive screener must be validated to be acceptable in legal settings. Any samples indicating presumptive positives in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample register as presumptively positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. Within this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at concentrations significantly lower than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirmation of any affirmative screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as required. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire lab process is scrutinized according to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Benefits of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeline: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, contrasting with urine tests that offer a reduced detection span.
• Resistance to manipulation: It is exceedingly difficult to falsify a hair drug test, ensuring higher accuracy of results.
• Offers historical insights: It can reveal patterns of drug use over time, not limited to recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: Drugs take roughly 5-7 days to become identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Aspects like hair color and individual differences in hair growth may impact the concentration of drug residues within the hair.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", the assessment evaluates the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Plattville, IL, hair follicle testing is considered superior to urine tests, offering enhanced detection and accuracy. Hair tests provide a longer detection window, making them more reliable for identifying substance abuse. Unlike urine tests, hair follicle testing is less prone to tampering and offers peace of mind.

Employers appreciate the robust results from hair tests, which ensure comprehensive reports on drug use patterns. While urine tests are useful for recent drug detection, hair tests offer more extensive data.

Extended Detection Window

Offering an unmatched detection window, hair follicle testing in Plattville, IL can trace drug use history for up to 90 days. This extended period offers employers a thorough understanding of an individual's substance habits.

In comparison to urine testing, hair follicle tests reveal long-term substance use, providing a comprehensive view that helps employers make informed decisions about applicants or employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Plattville, IL effectively reduces the risk of sample tampering, ensuring credible results. By minimizing adulteration opportunities, hair tests stand out as a reliable testing method.

The integrity of hair follicle samples guarantees accurate substance abuse detection, minimizing fraudulent attempts and providing employers with unquestionable results.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers across Plattville, IL, and nationwide, accessing hair follicle testing services is convenient and hassle-free. Our widespread locations ensure individuals can easily undergo testing without travel complexities.

The local presence of testing centers facilitates quick service, offering individuals timely access to essential hair follicle tests close to home.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Plattville, IL, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. Ordering a test, providing a sample, and receiving results are handled with utmost care, respecting privacy concerns.

This streamlined approach reassures individuals about confidentiality while offering an easy-to-navigate testing experience from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing, hair follicle testing in Plattville, IL ensures affordability without compromising on speed or accuracy. Fast turnaround times enhance value, benefiting companies of varying sizes.

Employers can trust our cost-effective solutions, receiving precise results swiftly, adding value to their investment and promoting workplace safety efficiently.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Plattville, IL, hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their speed and accuracy. By precisely identifying substance use, these tests provide quick results without sacrificing reliability. This accurate detection capability makes hair follicle testing a preferred choice among employers.

The efficiency of hair follicle tests ensures that employers receive results swiftly, enabling timely decision-making in maintaining workplace safety standards.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Plattville, IL, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with strict drug-free policies, reducing legal risks. This approach enhances workplace safety by maintaining a drug-free environment.

Implementing hair follicle testing provides employers with peace of mind, knowing they are adhering to regulations while fostering a secure and productive workspace.

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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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