Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Virgil, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent means to identify drug and alcohol consumption. The fibers of a growing hair strand trap biomarkers, offering a prolonged history of alcohol and other drug use. When taken from near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol usage over a period of up to three months. Hair sample collection is straightforward, hard to tamper with, and convenient to send.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) proximal to the scalp amounts to 100mg, the optimum sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's suggested to weigh the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is absent, a comparable quantity of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result encompasses four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial step where a sample is processed into the laboratory's system. This step ensures the sample is properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Though an economical way to rule out drug presence in most samples, a screen that results positive must be verified for it to be court-admissible. As such, samples registering presumptive positivity in Screening require subsequent confirmation.

If a sample is deemed presumptively positive during the Screening phase, more hair from the original specimen is selected for Extraction. Drugs are drawn out from hair at a considerably lower concentration as compared to other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of any screening outcome that turns positive is performed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing pre-confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning through to Confirmation is assessed following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) for Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug testing can identify drug usage for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which detect over a shorter period.
• Challenging to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is nearly impossible, enhancing result accuracy.
• Reveals historical data: It offers a timeline of drug use habits rather than solely recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent intake: Drugs take around 5-7 days to become apparent in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are costlier compared to alternative testing methods.
• Result variability: Differences due to factors like hair color and individual hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Usually known as "hair follicle tests," the test evaluates the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Virgil, IL stands superior to urine tests by providing a more accurate portrayal of substance history. Offering a longer detection window, it's invaluable for employers committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace. Its reliability in unmasking habitual substance use far exceeds that of traditional urine tests, providing a clearer picture of an individual's drug habits.

Extended Detection Window

In Virgil, IL, hair follicle tests offer an extended detection window, capturing drug usage up to 90 days prior. This comprehensive view allows employers to assess long-term patterns, unlike shorter-term methods like urine testing. By analyzing hair samples, employers gain insights into the substance-use history, ensuring a well-informed hiring or monitoring decision-making process.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle drug testing in Virgil, IL, significantly reduces the risk of sample tampering, ensuring results are dependable. Unlike other testing methods, hair samples are less susceptible to adulteration, providing reliable outcomes. This robust method fortifies trust in test results, supporting confident substance use assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With widespread testing centers including those in Virgil, IL, our services ensure effortless access to drug testing. The nature of our nationwide locations ensures a convenient, swift, and hassle-free testing experience for all clients. This accessibility supports individuals and businesses in maintaining essential testing protocols without interruption.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our hair follicle testing process in Virgil, IL, emphasizes simplicity and confidentiality. From ordering to receiving results, every step respects privacy, ensuring a seamless experience. Clients can trust in a discreet and straightforward approach, alleviating any concerns over confidentiality, while maintaining ease of access.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Virgil, IL, our hair follicle testing services provide affordable options with rapid turnaround times, offering compelling value for businesses of any scale. Competitive pricing combined with quick results furnish peace of mind alongside cost-effectiveness, emphasizing efficiency without compromising on quality.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Virgil, IL, hair follicle drug testing combines speed and accuracy, offering highly reliable assessments of substance use. The test's precision ensures that results are trustworthy, contributing to effective evaluations. The rapid pace of technologically advanced testing methods means results are obtained faster, aiding timely decision-making for employers and individuals alike.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Virgil, IL, seeking compliance with drug-free workplace policies find assurance in hair follicle testing. This method aligns with legal requirements, mitigating risks while fostering a secure work environment. By integrating robust testing practices, organizations enhance workplace safety while minimizing potential legal complications.

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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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