Hair Follicle Drug Testing - River Forest, IL

Employment, DOT, Court Ordered, Personal
Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG

29 Hair Drug Testing Centers in River Forest

Minutes Away, Test Today

7230 W North Ave Ste 106b1.11 miles

7230 W North Ave Ste 106b
Elmwood Park, IL 60707

610 S Maple Ave, Ste 58001.49 miles

610 S Maple Ave, Ste 5800
Oak Park, IL 60304

537 N Harvey Ave1.66 miles

537 N Harvey Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302

2333 N Harlem Ave Ste 1001.74 miles

2333 N Harlem Ave Ste 100
Chicago, IL 60707

1225 W Lake St Ste 1011.81 miles

1225 W Lake St Ste 101
Melrose Park, IL 60160

413 S Harvey Ave2.04 miles

413 S Harvey Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302

Fitness Department,2.21 miles

Fitness Department,
Melrose Park, IL 60101

7107 W Belmont Ave2.82 miles

7107 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60634

2615 Harrison St3.27 miles

2615 Harrison St
Bellwood, IL 60104

7222 W Cermak Rd3.29 miles

7222 W Cermak Rd
North Riverside, IL 60546

3101 N Harlem Ave Lower Level3.37 miles

3101 N Harlem Ave Lower Level
Chicago, IL 60634

1983 N Mannheim Rd3.68 miles

1983 N Mannheim Rd
Melrose Park, IL 60160

10137 Grand Ave4.00 miles

10137 Grand Ave
Franklin Park, IL 60131

5601 W Cermak Rd4.11 miles

5601 W Cermak Rd
Cicero, IL 60804

4830 N Cumberland Ave Ste 94.94 miles

4830 N Cumberland Ave Ste 9
Norridge, IL 60706

4900 N Cumberland Ave5.04 miles

4900 N Cumberland Ave
Norridge, IL 60706

4126 N Milwaukee Ave,5.15 miles

4126 N Milwaukee Ave,
Chicago, IL 60641

4211 N Cicero Ave5.34 miles

4211 N Cicero Ave
Chicago, IL 60641

4200 Mannheim Rd5.38 miles

4200 Mannheim Rd
Schiller Park, IL 60176

4757 W Montrose Ave5.54 miles

4757 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60641

2450 Wolf Rd Ste I5.83 miles

2450 Wolf Rd Ste I
Westchester, IL 60154

1044 N Francisco Ave5.89 miles

1044 N Francisco Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

7742 W Higgins Rd5.97 miles

7742 W Higgins Rd
Chicago, IL 60631

125 N La Grange Rd6.06 miles

125 N La Grange Rd
La Grange, IL 60525

1200 S York Rd Center For Health6.54 miles

1200 S York Rd Center For Health
Elmhurst, IL 60126

565 N York St6.58 miles

565 N York St
Elmhurst, IL 60126

6191 N Canfield Ave6.58 miles

6191 N Canfield Ave
Chicago, IL 60631

1431 N Western Ave Ste 137,6.60 miles

1431 N Western Ave Ste 137,
Chicago, IL 60622

835 S Wolcott Ave Ste E1446.61 miles

835 S Wolcott Ave Ste E144
Chicago, IL 60612

Employment, Court Ordered, Probation, Family

Located in River Forest, Illinois, Accredited Drug Testing offers comprehensive hair follicle testing. Whether testing for drugs or alcohol, we specialize in this method, providing nationwide centers prepped for evaluation. Hair samples from the crown or body, 1.5 to 2 inches long, can be analyzed for drug and alcohol content using our available custom testing choices.

Recently, the popularity of hair follicle drug tests has risen significantly for drug screening. They are favored by employers, courts, and professionals as an alternative to urine tests. These tests benefit zero-tolerance policies due to their extensive detection window—up to 90 days—ensuring difficult attempts at tampering. For use within five days, however, urine tests maintain their accuracy edge.

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol usage. Hair captures biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand, offering a prolonged history of alcohol and drug presence. When snipped near the scalp, hair can indicate substance use for up to a roughly 90-day period. Hair collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and easy to dispatch.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of about 200 strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) close to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for testing and confirmation. For EtG enhancements, and/or analyses exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the hair on a jeweler’s scale. If head hair isn't available, a similar quantity of body hair is acceptable. When mentioning head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial processing of a specimen into a lab’s system. This step includes ensuring the specimen was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and submitting any unmet data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody framework.

Screening represents a preliminary swift evaluation for substances of abuse. Although Screening is an economical means of excluding drug usage in most specimens, a positive result necessitates confirmation to be valid in legal situations. Any samples that return a presumptive positive in Screening do require a subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is taken from the original specimen to prepare for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are drawn from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other approaches (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug testing the most complex methodology to execute.

Confirming any positive screening outcome is undertaken using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens undergo a wash before confirmation when needed. The comprehensive laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Benefits of hair drug analysis:

  • Extended detection period: Hair drug analyses can discover drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter detection time.
  • Challenge to deceive: Cheating a hair drug analysis is extremely tough, enhancing result accuracy.
  • Represents historical patterns: It supplies a timeline of drug use across a duration, not solely recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

  • Inability to detect recent consumption: It requires around 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
  • Expense: Hair drug analyses typically cost more than other drug testing methods.
  • Result variability: Elements such as hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the examination actually assesses the hair strand, not the sub-scalp hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing hair follicle tests to traditional urine tests reveals several advantages. In River Forest, IL, hair testing excels due to its higher detection accuracy and reliability.

Hair tests are less prone to manipulation, offering employers and legal entities unwavering assurance, while urine tests can be more easily influenced by various factors.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests provide an extended detection window, covering up to 90 days. In River Forest, IL, this allows employers a thorough view of a subject's substance history.

With a longer assessment period, employers can make informed decisions about potential hires or current employees, promoting a safer work environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing is a key benefit in River Forest, IL. The method minimizes sample adulteration, leading to reliable and trusted results.

This reduces the chance of false negatives or positives, letting organizations rest easy knowing the test results are accurate and legitimate.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient testing centers spread nationwide, including River Forest, IL, ensures easy access to our services. Our hassle-free approach allows individuals to find testing locations quickly and without stress.

We prioritize customer experience, striving to make the entire testing process as smooth and efficient as possible.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process for hair follicle testing in River Forest, IL, is designed to be both simple and confidential. From ordering tests to receiving results, we emphasize client privacy.

Our system is streamlined so that users can confidently access their results, secure in the knowledge that their privacy is protected.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In River Forest, IL, we offer competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing. Our commitment to affordable services provides excellent value.

Whether dealing with large corporations or small businesses, our pricing structure ensures all can benefit from quick and reliable testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In River Forest, IL, hair follicle drug tests offer rapid, precise, and reliable outcomes. Their high accuracy allows for detecting substance use with confidence. Precision is a highlight, ensuring that every test conducted provides trustworthy data.

Speed is also a critical benefit of hair follicle testing, making sure results are swiftly returned to both companies and individuals seeking clarity.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Hair follicle testing helps employers in River Forest, IL, uphold drug-free workplace policies. Ensuring compliance reduces legal risks and enhances work safety.

Implementing this testing method brings peace of mind, affirming both employer and employee commitment to a safe, drug-free workplace environment.

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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Frequently Asked Questions

A hair follicle drug test analyzes a small sample of hair to detect a history of drug use over time. Because drug metabolites are incorporated into hair as it grows, this method can show patterns of use instead of just recent exposure. It is frequently used for legal and court requirements, long-term monitoring, and high-trust workforce screening.
Standard hair drug testing typically reflects drug use over approximately a 90-day period, based on the length of hair collected at the time of testing. Longer hair can sometimes reflect a longer time frame, and extremely short hair can reduce that window.
Hair drug testing commonly screens for marijuana/THC, cocaine, opiates/opioids, amphetamines/methamphetamines, and PCP. In many cases, additional expanded panels may be requested to include other substances.
Yes. If the donor's head hair is too short or unavailable, body hair may be collected as an alternative. The collector will document the source of the sample. This allows testing even for individuals with recently cut or shaved head hair.
Yes. Hair drug testing is commonly used in court, probation, custody, and compliance matters because the collection process follows a documented chain of custody and the analysis is performed by a certified laboratory. Results are provided in a form that can be reviewed by legal and administrative authorities.
Yes. Individuals, parents, attorneys, employers, and probation programs can all request hair drug testing. A doctor's order is not required. Results are confidential and released only to the authorized requesting party.
Hair testing provides a longer look-back period than urine testing, making it useful when you need to demonstrate ongoing abstinence or identify repeated/recent substance use patterns over time rather than just recent exposure. It is frequently selected for legal, compliance, and custody-related documentation.
A small section of hair is cut by a trained collector in a discreet, controlled manner. The sample is sealed, documented, and sent to the laboratory under established chain-of-custody procedures so that the results can be defended if they are ever challenged.

Customer Reviews

Sweet and helpful

Trish was amazing and got me through the sytem very fast and swift. I had a hard time hearing her a couple of times, but she was super sweet and helpful throughout the process. Highly recommend her!

Sophia Schutze - 6/19/2024

Quick, knowledgeable and courteous

Quick, knowledgeable and courteous Janelle worked diligently to support me. I am recommending their services to anyone looking.

Greensboro Joseph - 11/19/2024

Very Fun and Easy

Trish last week and Tatiana this week, very fun and easy folks to deal with. Well be using them more and more in the future.

Tom O - 12/19/2024


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