Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Stanford, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is now considered an essential method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the fiber of the hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair offers roughly a ninety-day detection window for substances. Hair is easy to obtain, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 hair strands (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg, which is ideal for initial testing and verification. For tests involving EtG, additional panels, or those beyond 10 panels, 150mg of hair is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample weight. If scalp hair isn't available, an equal amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair includes all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test laboratory workflow consists of four major stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, the sample undergoes initial processing within a laboratory system. This process ensures the sample was properly sealed and sent, assigns it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any other data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary check for substance abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective method to eliminate drug use for most samples, a positive result needs confirmation for legal acceptability. Any samples that show a positive result in Screening require a subsequent confirmation.

If a sample shows a positive result during Screening, more hair is retrieved from the initial sample to prepare for Extraction. Here, drugs are drawn out from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing the most challenging technique to execute.

Confirmation for any positive Screening result is done using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples showing a presumptive positive are cleaned before confirmation if needed. The complete lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Benefits of hair drug analysis:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days prior, contrasting with urine tests, which offer a much shorter detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is extremely difficult, thus ensuring more reliable outcomes.
• Provides usage patterns: It can reveal drug use trends over time, rather than only recent consumption.

Drawbacks:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs generally appear in hair in about 5-7 days after usage.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically pricier than alternative drug tests.
• Result variability: Hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact the level of drug metabolites present in hair strands.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Stanford, IL, hair follicle testing offers a distinct advantage over traditional urine tests. Unlike the latter, hair follicle tests capture a longer history of substance use, making them a superior choice for reliable detection.

The precision of hair testing in Stanford ensures an accurate reflection of an individual's substance use over time, outmatching urine screenings that capture only recent consumption.

This method also eliminates the need for on-demand urine collection, offering a more streamlined testing solution for organizations and individuals alike.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Stanford, IL boasts an extended detection window, effortlessly identifying substance use over the past 90 days.

This wide detection period offers employers a detailed snapshot of an individual's substance history, aiding in informed decision-making.

The expansive timeline of detection allows organizations to maintain a robust and drug-free environment with confidence.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Stanford, IL, hair follicle tests present a tamper-resistant method for drug testing. The integrity of these tests vastly reduces the likelihood of sample adulteration.

This resilience against tampering provides results that are both reliable and trustworthy, ensuring the integrity of the testing process.

With hair testing, concerned parties can have peace of mind, trusting in the accuracy and strength of their results, free from manipulation risks.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Stanford, IL, convenient testing locations enhance the accessibility of hair follicle drug tests. Our widespread network across the nation ensures testing services are within easy reach.

With local and national centers, individuals and organizations can access quick and hassle-free testing without logistical burdens.

This expansive network guarantees that testing remains a seamless and straightforward process for all involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Stanford, IL, the simple and confidential process of hair follicle testing addresses privacy concerns while offering ease of use.

From ordering to sample collection and receiving results, every step is designed to prioritize confidentiality and user convenience.

This commitment to a straightforward process ensures that clients can carry out tests without compromising their comfort or discretion.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With affordable pricing and fast turnaround in Stanford, IL, our hair follicle drug tests offer excellent value.

Our pricing structures remain competitive, catering to companies of all sizes seeking cost-effective solutions.

Rapid result delivery further complements the offering, ensuring timely insights without sacrificing quality or expertise, affording businesses peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Stanford, IL, hair follicle drug tests offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. With the ability to meticulously identify traces of substance use, these tests ensure that results remain consistent and precise.

Employing advanced technologies, hair follicle testing in Stanford provides unparalleled accuracy, underpinning its reputation as a dependable choice for drug detection.

The rapid processing ensures you receive results promptly, enhancing decision-making capacities for concerned stakeholders.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Stanford, IL gain compliance and peace of mind by utilizing hair follicle testing. This method ensures adherence to workplace drug policies, mitigating legal risks.

Hair testing supports the establishment of a safe and compliant work environment, aligning with zero-tolerance approaches.

The rigorous standards of hair testing reinforce workplace safety, empowering employers with comprehensive oversight over potential drug use.

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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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