Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Preston Heights, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair retains a long-term record of substances by trapping biomarkers within its fibers as it grows. Samples taken near the scalp can provide a detection window of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment containing roughly 200 hair strands (approximating the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the scalp offers 100mg of hair, which is ideal for both screening and confirmatory tests. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is preferred. We suggest weighing the hair sample using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. The term 'head hair' refers specifically to scalp hair, whereas 'body hair' encompasses all other forms (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Summary

The laboratory process for drug test results includes four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step of incorporating a sample into the lab's system. This step involves checking that the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any further data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary examination for substance abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to primarily rule out drug use in most samples, a positive result requires confirmation to be acceptable in legal settings. Any samples testing presumptively positive at the Screening stage require additional confirmation.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for the Extraction stage. Drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other matrices (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair testing the most challenging methodology.

Positive Screening results are confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Every presumptive positive sample is rinsed before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Pros of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use for as long as 90 days, as opposed to the shorter detection span of urine tests.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is highly unlikely, thus delivering more accurate outcomes.
• Historical usage data: It allows insight into drug use trends over time, not just recent activity.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be costlier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual variations in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Despite commonly being termed "hair follicle tests", these tests analyze the hair strand itself, rather than the follicle underneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Preston Heights, IL, hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests significantly. Offering superior detection accuracy, hair tests provide detailed insights into an individual's long-term drug use history. Unlike urine tests, which detect recent substance usage, hair testing ensures reliability by spanning a lengthy detection period, eliminating short-term deceits.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Preston Heights, IL unveils drug use for up to 90 days, offering an extended detection period. This enables employers to gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual's substance habits. The prolonged detection window serves as an invaluable asset for long-term assessment, supporting informed decision-making regarding potential hires and current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Preston Heights, IL offers a tamper-resistant alternative to traditional testing methods. The stringent process reduces the likelihood of adulteration, securing reliable and unfaltering results. By mitigating risks associated with sample tampering, hair testing ensures the legitimacy of findings and promotes confidence in its outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient nationwide testing centers and local sites in Preston Heights, IL, access to hair follicle testing is quick and hassle-free. Our comprehensive network ensures easy availability of services, saving time and effort. This widespread testing infrastructure supports efficient and timely testing on a local and national level.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Preston Heights, IL is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step ensures privacy and ease of use, addressing any concerns of confidentiality. The seamless arrangement simplifies the experience, maintaining discretion and assuring users of the security of their personal information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing structures and rapid turnaround times, hair follicle testing in Preston Heights, IL provides immense value. These cost-effective solutions cater to businesses of all sizes, ensuring affordability without compromising on quality. Swift processing guarantees prompt delivery, enhancing client satisfaction and reliability.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests stand out in Preston Heights, IL. These tests offer unmatched accuracy in identifying substance use, ensuring fast and reliable results. By utilizing advanced technology, hair follicle screenings deliver comprehensive drug detection, promoting transparency and efficiency in the testing process.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle testing in Preston Heights, IL ensures compliance with workplace drug-free policies. It provides employers with peace of mind, reducing legal liabilities and enhancing safety standards. Reliable testing contributes to a secure working environment, supporting the enforcement of strict no-drug policies within professional settings.

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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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