Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Shobonier, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair retains a prolonged history of substance usage by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair offers a detection period of around three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches and consisting of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) near the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for testing. For EtG, add-ons, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of hair is recommended. Using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is suggested. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent body hair amount can be collected. In reference to head hair, we mean scalp hair only. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab process for analyzing a drug test result includes four main steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial sample processing in a lab's system. This step involves verifying the sample’s proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry that didn’t originate from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary assessment for drug presence. This stage is cost-efficient for excluding drugs in most samples, but a positive screen must be verified for legal acceptance. Samples showing a possible positive in Screening need additional confirmation.

For samples with initial positive results in Screening, extra hair from the specimen is utilized for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted at a much lower concentration than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), marking hair testing as the most challenging methodology.

Confirmation of positive screens is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are cleaned before confirmation as required. Each lab stage, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that offer a shorter detection period.
• Resistance to tampering: Cheating a hair drug test is challenging, ensuring more trustworthy results.
• Tracks historical use: It provides a usage pattern over time rather than only recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair tests generally cost more than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Eye color and personal hair growth differences can impact metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Despite being called "hair follicle tests," these tests analyze the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Shobonier, IL
Hair testing surpasses traditional urine tests by offering longer detection periods and superior accuracy. While urine tests excel in recent drug detection, hair tests provide a comprehensive overview of drug use over months.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Shobonier, IL
Hair follicle testing captures drug use history for up to 90 days, enabling employers to assess an individual's substance use over a significant period. This extended window is key in evaluating consistent substance habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Shobonier, IL
Hair follicle tests significantly lower the chances of sample tampering. The method's resistant nature ensures the integrity of the sample and reliability of results, offering a trustworthy testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations in Shobonier, IL
Our widespread testing centers provide easy access to drug testing services, ensuring seamless and prompt testing procedures for all clients, no matter their location.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Shobonier, IL
Ordering, taking, and receiving results are straightforward and confidential, ensuring privacy and convenience for all clients, fostering a stress-free testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Shobonier, IL
Competitive pricing combined with quick result turnaround times ensures high value for businesses of any size, ensuring financial efficiency without sacrificing quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Shobonier, IL
Hair follicle drug tests are celebrated for their precision and quick delivery of results. The accuracy of these tests allows for dependable detection of substance use, providing both employers and individuals with confidence in the outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Shobonier, IL
By adopting hair follicle testing, employers can adhere to drug-free workplace policies. This compliance mitigates legal risks and promotes a safer work environment for all employees.

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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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