Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Spring Grove, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a detailed account of alcohol and other drugs by encapsulating biomarkers within the fibers of each growing hair strand. When taken near the scalp, hair can offer up to about a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to gather, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of around 200 strands of hair (roughly matching the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or testing beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It’s advisable to measure the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a comparable quantity of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, we are specifically referring to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The central steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary handling of a sample into a lab's system. This step ensures the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and includes any extra data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves an initial rapid assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening is a cost-efficient method to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive result necessitates confirmation for legal defensibility. Any samples presumptively positive in Screening require additional confirmation.

For samples presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than through other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most demanding method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as needed. The full laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can detect drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a more limited detection range.
• Challenging to falsify: Hair drug tests are challenging to manipulate, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insights: It can show a history of drug use spanning a duration rather than only recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Typically, 5-7 days are needed for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Differences in outcomes: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly called "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Spring Grove, IL, far outweighs the benefits of traditional urine testing. Its superior detection accuracy captures up to 90 days of substance history, ensuring unmatched reliability and a comprehensive overview of one's drug use.

Extended Detection Window

In Spring Grove, IL, hair follicle testing offers an extensive detection window, typically extending up to 90 days. This advantage allows for a more thorough examination of an individual's drug use history, proving invaluable for employers assessing potential hires.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests significantly minimize the risk of tampering, providing robust and reliable results in Spring Grove, IL. These tests are virtually impossible to adulterate, ensuring that the findings remain trustworthy and credible.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With testing centers throughout the nation, including Spring Grove, IL, accessing our hair follicle testing services is both quick and convenient. Our extensive network ensures a hassle-free experience for all testing needs.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing process in Spring Grove, IL, is designed for simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering to testing and receiving results, each step is straightforward, making privacy and ease-of-use top priorities.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Spring Grove, IL, benefits from our competitive pricing and speedy turnaround times for hair follicle tests. We offer excellent value with our affordable services, catering to companies of various sizes.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The accuracy and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests in Spring Grove, IL, are unmatched. With their ability to precisely identify substance use, these tests provide results that are both reliable and timely, allowing for informed decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Spring Grove, IL, find peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This method ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies, thereby lowering legal risks and promoting a safer working 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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