Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Sidney, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now recognized as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair preserves a comprehensive record of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair shaft. If collected near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a three-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to send.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil's thickness) nearest the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, the optimal sample amount for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and tests beyond 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, the same quantity of body hair can be gathered. When we mention head hair, we specifically refer to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result encompasses four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a lab’s system. This involves verifying the proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary rapid check for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed to be legally valid. Any samples that are preliminarily positive in Screening require a secondary verification.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are separated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair label and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug use up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter window.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, leading to more precise results.
• Offers historical data: It reveals a drug use pattern over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Comparing Hair and Urine Tests

Hair follicle testing in Sidney, IL, outshines traditional urine tests by offering heightened detection accuracy and consistency. While urine tests may miss certain substances, hair tests provide a more comprehensive screening.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle tests in Sidney, IL, offer an impressive detection period up to 90 days. This extended timeframe gives employers a thorough perspective on a potential hire or employee's drug usage history.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Minimizing Tampering

Hair follicle tests are lauded in Sidney, IL, for their robustness against tampering and adulteration. This methodology ensures results that are both genuine and reliable, eliminating doubts over sample validity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Testing Centers Nationwide

With a network of testing centers spanning nationwide, including Sidney, IL, we provide convenient and hassle-free access to test services, ensuring they are within reach whenever you require them.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplicity and Privacy

In Sidney, IL, the process for hair follicle testing is both straightforward and confidential. Ordering, taking the test, and receiving results are designed to protect your privacy and simplify the procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing and Speedy Turnaround

Our operations in Sidney, IL, are known for competitive pricing and rapid turnaround, offering companies economical solutions alongside the reassurance of fast results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Reliable and Prompt Results

In Sidney, IL, hair follicle tests are renowned for delivering results that are both prompt and incredibly accurate. Their precision in detecting the presence of substances is unmatched, ensuring that users can have confidence in the findings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employer Compliance and Assurance

In Sidney, IL, hair follicle testing aids employers in adhering to drug-free workplace policies. It diminishes legal risks and fosters a safe work environment, granting peace of mind.

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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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