Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Saint Johns, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. By trapping biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows, hair offers a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug use. When samples are taken near the scalp, they can offer a detection window of up to about three months for drugs and alcohol. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and uncomplicated to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of roughly 200 hairs (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) taken from the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advisable. It's best to measure the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair cannot be collected, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. When mentioning head hair, we specifically refer to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

There are four primary steps in processing a drug test result in the laboratory: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial step where the sample is logged into the laboratory system. This process includes confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and shipped, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing additional data entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While cost-effective for ruling out drug use in most samples, results from a positive screen must be confirmed for court admissibility. Any samples that appear positive in Screening require further confirmation.

If a positive result is indicated during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. Here, the drugs are extracted at significantly lower concentrations than other methods, such as urine or oral fluid testing, making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation of a positive screen result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. All positive samples undergo washing before confirmation, if needed. The laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a shorter window of detection.
• Hard to manipulate: Fraudulent manipulation of hair drug tests is highly challenging, leading to more reliable results.
• Provides usage history: The test can reveal patterns of drug use over time, not just recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Individual factors, including hair color and growth variations, can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Saint Johns, IL, hair follicle testing outshines urine tests by providing superior detection and reliability. The technology behind hair analysis ensures a more accurate perspective on substance usage over extended periods. Unlike urine samples, which are limited in their detection window, hair tests offer a comprehensive view, enhancing their usefulness in various testing environments.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing in Saint Johns, IL, covers up to 90 days, significantly longer than other methods. Employers gain invaluable insights into an applicant's or employee's substance history, which assists in making informed hiring and management decisions, thus promoting a drug-free workplace environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Saint Johns, IL, are highly tamper-resistant, reducing the risk of sample adulteration. The reliability of these tests ensures that results remain unquestionable and accurate, making it a preferred method for those seeking assurances that the testing process is legitimate and the outcomes are trustworthy.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing centers nationwide, including Saint Johns, IL, we guarantee easy and quick access to our testing services. This expansive network simplifies the process, ensuring that appointments suit your schedule, and lessens difficulties often associated with scheduled testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Saint Johns, IL, is intentionally simple and confidential. From ordering tests to receiving confidential results, every step is streamlined to prioritize privacy and ease of use, comforting users who are concerned about discretion and efficiency.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Saint Johns, IL, affordable pricing and fast turnaround characterize our hair follicle testing services. Companies of varying sizes find excellent value in our competitive pricing structures and rapid processing times, leading to peace of mind and resource savings.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing delivers fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes in Saint Johns, IL. The precision involved ensures a dependable identification of substance use, providing results recognized for their high level of accuracy. This method's ability to swiftly process samples sets it apart, offering confidence in the comprehensiveness of the data presented.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For businesses in Saint Johns, IL, hair follicle testing offers compliance and peace of mind. It supports adherence to drug-free workplace policies and minimizes legal liabilities, significantly enhancing workplace safety. This approach ensures that employers meet necessary safety regulations, contributing to a seamless operation.

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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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