Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Shipman, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures biomarkers within the strands, providing a long-term record of substance use. When collected near the scalp, it offers a detection window of up to three months for alcohol and drugs. It's easy to collect, harder to tamper with, and simple to ship.

Gathering a sample of 1.5 inches consisting of 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) from the scalp yields 100mg, optimal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, or tests over 10 panels, 150mg is advised. Measuring the weight with a jeweler’s scale is recommended. If scalp hair is unobtainable, a corresponding amount of body hair may be used. "Head hair" refers solely to scalp hair, while "body hair" refers to all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

Lab processing of a drug test involves Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial integration of the sample into the lab system, ensuring it's sealed and shipped correctly, assigning a LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any needed data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening checks for drugs of abuse initially. While cost-effective, a positive screen must be confirmed to be valid in court. Presumptive positive samples in Screening require further confirmation.

If positive, more hair from the original sample is prepared for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations than in other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Any presumptive positive in Screening undergoes Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All such samples are washed as necessary before Confirmation. The entire process is reviewed under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection windows.
• Hard to manipulate: Hair drug tests are resistant to cheating, ensuring accurate results.
• Historical usage pattern: They provide a timeline of drug use over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent usage: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to be noticeable in hair.
• Price: Hair drug tests tend to be more costly than other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and growth variations can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Often called "hair follicle tests," the analysis is of the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Shipman, IL is evident in its superior detection accuracy. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis provides a longer detection window, making it more reliable for employers seeking thorough substance use insights. Thus, organizations benefit from a more comprehensive view of an individual's drug use history.

Extended Detection Window

The Extended Detection Window offered by hair follicle testing in Shipman, IL is a significant advantage. Capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days back, it gives employers a substantial overview of a person’s drug history. This extended insight aids in making well-informed decisions regarding potential hires or current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Shipman, IL provide a Tamper-Resistant Testing Method. Due to their nature, they are far less susceptible to tampering compared to urine tests, ensuring that results remain credible and beyond doubt. This reliability is vital for maintaining the integrity of the drug testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations include Shipman, IL, allowing for easy access to testing services. Our widespread network of facilities ensures that individuals and organizations can benefit from prompt and efficient testing processes without geographical constraints.

Simple, Confidential Process

Understanding the need for ease and confidentiality, our process in Shipman, IL is Simple and Confidential. From ordering to receiving results, every step is designed to protect privacy while maintaining simplicity, offering users peace of mind when undergoing drug testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Shipman, IL, our approach provides Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround. Competitive pricing paired with quick response times ensures that businesses receive excellent value. This efficiency assists organizations of all sizes in managing their drug testing needs without budget concerns.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Shipman, IL, the precision and rapidity of hair follicle drug tests stand out. These tests are renowned for their ability to deliver quick and accurate results in detecting substance use. Fast, Accurate, and Reliable – hair testing provides an effective solution for both individuals and organizations looking to ensure the integrity of their drug testing process.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Shipman, IL, hair follicle testing offers Compliance and Peace of Mind. By aligning with drug-free workplace policies, organizations can mitigate legal risks while promoting a safer work environment. Hair testing ensures that compliance is maintained effectively across the board.

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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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