Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Spaulding, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is increasingly recognized as a robust method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a comprehensive history of alcohol and drug use by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When collected near the scalp, hair can present roughly a three-month window for detecting alcohol and drug use. Hair is straightforward to gather, moderately hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp provides 100mg, an ideal sample for both screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not accessible, a comparable quantity of body hair is permissible. 'Head hair' refers solely to scalp hair, while 'body hair' includes other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The core steps in the lab analysis of a drug test include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the preliminary integration of a sample into a lab's system, comprising verifying proper sealing and shipping 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 involves an initial assessment for drug use. While Screening is cost-efficient for disproving drug use in most samples, a positive outcome must be confirmed to be legally admissible. Any samples testing positive in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

If a sample is positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at concentrations lower than those in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging to execute.

Confirmation of positive screen results is done via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples testing positive are cleansed prior to confirmation as needed. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter detection windows.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, resulting in more reliable results.
• Historical analysis: It offers a timeline of drug use over time rather than just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after roughly 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other testing methods.
• Result variations: Hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although frequently called "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Surpasses Urine Testing in Spaulding, IL lies in its comprehensive detection and superior reliability. Unlike traditional urine tests, hair follicle tests offer a broader detection window, helping to reliably reveal substance use over time, delivering peace of mind to employers.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Period in Spaulding, IL encapsulates the hair follicle testing advantage, with its up to 90-day detection span. Unlike shorter-detection methods, such as urine tests, it provides a complete view of someone’s substance history, aiding in responsible hiring and monitoring.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Preventing Tampering with Hair Tests in Spaulding, IL highlights how hair follicle testing significantly lowers the possibility of sample adulteration. The process is designed to deliver honest results, making it an ideal choice for accurate and irrefutable testing outcomes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Nationwide and Local Testing Convenience in Spaulding, IL illustrates the ease provided by our widespread testing centers, ensuring that testing services are accessible quickly and without fuss, across various locations nationwide, for everyone’s convenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simplicity and Privacy in Spaulding, IL defines the hair follicle testing approach — a straightforward, confidential process from ordering to results delivery. This ensures privacy is upheld, with an uncomplicated pathway for getting the necessary testing done.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-effective and Swift Results in Spaulding, IL reflect competitive pricing models and rapid result delivery times. Companies, large or small, benefit from this cost efficiency and reliability, providing them with peace of mind and value.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Reliable Drug Testing in Spaulding, IL ensures that hair follicle tests are not only swift but also precise. This testing method offers unmatched accuracy, rapidly identifying substance use with minimal delays. The careful analysis process guarantees high dependability.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Enhancing Compliance and Assurance for Employers in Spaulding, IL through hair follicle testing ensures adherence to drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal exposure and promotes safety, giving employers the confidence they are supporting a compliant and secure work environment.

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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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