Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ridgewood, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an efficient method for identifying alcohol and drug usage. Hair records extended history of substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When cut close to the scalp, it reveals up to a three-month history for alcohol and other substances. It's easy to gather, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A segment measuring 1.5 inches consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (similar to a #2 pencil's thickness) from the scalp yields 100mg of hair, perfect for both screening and confirming. For EtG, additional panels, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg is preferred. Use a jeweler’s scale for precise specimen weighing. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent body hair sample may be used. Here, 'head hair' means scalp hair, while 'body hair' covers other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The key procedures in laboratory drug test processing consist of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

In Accessioning, a sample is initially logged into the lab’s system. This involves ensuring the sample is sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any additional data entry omitted by electronic chain systems.

Screening is a quick preliminary check for the presence of drugs. While cost-efficient for excluding drug use in most samples, a positive Screening requires further validation for court acceptability. Presumptive positives in Screening necessitate subsequent confirmation.

For samples testing presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is taken from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations lower than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening one of the toughest methodologies.

Confirmation of positive screening results is performed with GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positives are washed before confirmation as required. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the whole lab process is examined under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designations and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests identify drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that cover shorter periods.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair test is challenging, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Provides usage history: It shows a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Detection of drugs in hair takes about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair testing is typically pricier than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Hair color and individual growth rates can influence metabolite concentration.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" might be misleading as it actually assesses the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Ridgewood, IL
Hair follicle testing offers a significant advantage over traditional urine tests. With its superior detection accuracy and reliability, it provides an extended detection window and is difficult to tamper with. Compared to urine tests, hair testing offers a broader history of substance use, giving employers a clearer picture of an individual's drug history.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Ridgewood, IL

• Hair follicle testing allows substance detection up to 90 days, surpassing the much shorter window of urine testing.
• This lengthy detection period gives employers substantial insight into an applicant's or employee's drug usage.
• Therefore, it is particularly useful for long-term substance use monitoring, aiding in maintaining a drug-free environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Ridgewood, IL
One of the powerful advantages of hair follicle testing is the difficulty involved in cheating or adulterating the sample. This method substantially reduces the risk of tampering, providing reliable and unassailable results that stand up to scrutiny.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Ridgewood, IL

• Our extensive network of testing centers across the country ensures quick and easy access.
• In Ridgewood, IL, local facilities offer convenience and accessibility to high-quality testing services.
• This widespread availability makes the drug testing process hassle-free for individuals and employers alike.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Ridgewood, IL
Ordering and completing a hair follicle test in Ridgewood is straightforward and confidential. From scheduling the test to receiving the results, the process emphasizes privacy, ensuring comfort and ease of use for all participants concerned about discretion and simplicity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Ridgewood, IL
Our competitive pricing structures and quick turnaround times offer excellent value, providing peace of mind and conscious budgeting for companies of any size. Efficient test processing ensures that employers and individuals are not left waiting for results, facilitating timely decision-making.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Ridgewood, IL
Hair follicle testing in Ridgewood stands out for its precision and speed, ensuring reliable detection of substance use. These tests offer high accuracy which minimizes false positives and false negatives, allowing for fast results. Their efficiency is especially valued by employers eager for precise substance abuse assessment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Ridgewood, IL
Ensuring compliance with workplace drug-free policies can significantly reduce legal risks. Hair follicle testing in Ridgewood provides employers with peace of mind by enhancing workplace safety and maintaining a compliant workforce free from substance abuse.

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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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