Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Stone Park, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective instrument for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair records a prolonged history of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the emerging hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can present up to a nearly 3-month window for detecting alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to gather, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hair strands (around the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the ideal quantity for screening and confirming. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests over 10 panels, it is suggested to have 150mg of the specimen. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen is advisable. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a comparable quantity of body hair may be collected. When referencing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome consist of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the initial handling of a sample into a lab’s system. This encompasses verifying that the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and accomplishing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening includes an initial swift examination for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient approach to ruling out drug consumption on most samples, a positive screen must be confirmed to be admissible in legal proceedings. Samples displaying presumptive positives in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

If a specimen receives a presumptive positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample for preparation in Extraction. During this phase, drugs are derived from hair at a markedly lower concentration than in other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most complex method to undertake.

Any positive screening result is confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to necessary confirmation. The whole 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:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests can determine drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is very challenging, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Delivers historical insights: It can demonstrate a pattern of drug use over time, beyond just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to identify recent consumption: Drugs take around 5-7 days to be detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing techniques.
• Result discrepancies: Elements like hair color and personal variations in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Often described as "hair follicle tests", this test evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Stone Park, IL, hair follicle testing is superior to traditional urine tests. The accuracy of detection is heightened, capturing substance use that may be missed by urine tests, offering a more reliable assessment of an individual's drug use history.

The comprehensive nature of hair testing sets it apart. Unlike urine tests, hair analyses are not influenced by recent abstinence, providing considerate insights into long-term substance use trends.

Extended Detection Window

Stone Park, IL leverages hair follicle testing for its extended detection window, up to 90 days. This period allows employers to gauge long-term substance use, providing a fuller picture of an individual’s habits.

Unlike shorter-term tests, the wide detection span of hair testing offers employers in Stone Park, IL an intricate understanding of an employee's or candidate's substance use behavior.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Stone Park, IL, hair follicle testing provides an almost tamper-proof method, significantly minimizing adulteration risks. The test's reliability ensures the results remain uncontested and dependable.

The robustness of hair testing in Stone Park, IL lies in its resistance to tampering, presenting a trusted approach to drug testing amidst growing concerns over sample manipulation in more traditional methods.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing assures ease and accessibility with its numerous testing facilities. In Stone Park, IL, businesses can rely on local and nationwide service points for a seamless testing experience.

The convenience of having broad testing options in Stone Park, IL allows for efficient and expedient process management, meeting the needs of employers without hassle.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Stone Park, IL, the process of hair follicle testing is both straightforward and private. Individuals can be assured of confidentiality at every stage, from ordering to receiving the final results.

This simplicity supports employee ease and comfort in Stone Park, IL, as the discreet handling of sensitive information is prioritized, making it an ideal solution for workplace drug testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Stone Park, IL businesses can expect cost-effective pricing with quick results when choosing hair follicle testing, offering excellent value for organizations of any size.

The affordability combined with rapid turnaround time positions hair testing as an exceptional choice for companies, ensuring financial and operational efficiency in Stone Park, IL.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle testing in Stone Park, IL offers unmatched precision and speed. The method provides highly accurate results when detecting substance use, standing out as an effective tool for employers seeking reliable information.

Quick turnaround times are a hallmark of hair testing. In Stone Park, IL, the method ensures analyses are done promptly, allowing businesses to make timely, confident hiring and workplace decisions.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Stone Park, IL, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal liability and supports a safe, productive work environment, reflecting an employer's commitment to integrity.

Ensuring peace of mind, Stone Park, IL businesses benefit from the security of knowing they adhere to regulations while promoting a safe and healthy organizational culture.

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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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