Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Thompsonville, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures biomarkers within the fibers of a growing strand, offering a comprehensive history of substance use. When samples are cut close to the scalp, they provide an estimated three-month detection window for substances like alcohol and drugs. Hair is easy to gather, relatively tamper-proof, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is the prime amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and panels beyond 10, a specimen of 150mg is advised. It is ideal to weigh the hair on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair cannot be collected, an equivalent amount of body hair should be used. "Head hair" exclusively refers to scalp hair, distinguishing it from "body hair," covering all other hair types (like facial and axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory analysis of a drug test involves four critical stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial entry of a sample into the laboratory system. This stage verifies the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any data entry not supplied by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary assessment to identify drugs of abuse efficiently. While it is a cost-effective method for eliminating drug use in most samples, any positive result from Screening requires confirmation to be used in legal proceedings. Presumptive positive results in Screening necessitate secondary confirmation.

For presumptive positives, additional hair is extracted from the sample for processing. Drugs are retrieved from hair at lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or saliva), making hair testing the most challenging methodology to carry out.

Verification of positive screenings is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Samples testing positive are cleansed as necessary before confirmation. The laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is audited under CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests detect drug presence for up to 90 days, surpassing urine tests' shorter detection periods.
• Hard to circumvent: It's challenging to deceive hair drug tests, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Offers historical insight: Hair tests depict usage patterns over time rather than recent usage alone.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: It takes about 5-7 days for substances to become identifiable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing often costs more than other testing forms.
• Result variations: Elements like hair pigmentation and individual growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests," the assessment examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair testing in Thompsonville, IL, surpasses traditional urine tests by offering superior detection accuracy and unmatched reliability.
These tests provide a more comprehensive view of an individual's drug use, reducing the chances of missed detections compared to standard urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Thompsonville, IL, boasts an extended detection window of up to 90 days.
This feature offers employers a detailed understanding of an individual's long-term substance history, crucial for informed decision-making.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Thompsonville, IL, significantly curb the risk of sample manipulation.
With no opportunity for adulteration, these tests deliver reliable and unquestionable results, reinforcing the integrity of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With widespread testing locations, including in Thompsonville, IL, accessing our services is both quick and hassle-free.
The convenience of our nationwide centers guarantees that your testing needs are met efficiently and effectively.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Thompsonville, IL, our hair follicle testing process is both simple and confidential.
Our straightforward procedures for ordering, testing, and receiving results address concerns of privacy and ease of use, ensuring a seamless experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and fast turnaround in Thompsonville, IL, make us a preferred choice.
We guarantee excellent value and quick results for businesses of varying sizes, offering both affordability and peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Thompsonville, IL, hair follicle tests are known for their precision and speed. They offer unmatched accuracy when detecting substance use.
The ability to swiftly and accurately identify drug use makes these tests invaluable, ensuring employers and individuals can rely on the results provided.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Thompsonville, IL, hair follicle testing ensures drug-free workplace compliance.
This method not only reduces legal risks but also enhances overall workplace safety, offering employers 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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