Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Wellington, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly regarded as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol use. Hair strands serve as a long-term record of alcohol and drug exposure by encapsulating biomarkers within the growing hair fibers. When hair is clipped near the scalp, it can reveal up to a 3-month analysis period for alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to acquire, relatively challenging to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, approximately 200 strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp, yields 100mg, an optimal quantity for evaluation and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or evaluations beyond 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is suggested to determine the specimen's weight with a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be insufficient, a similar quantity of body hair may be obtained. "Head hair" denotes only scalp hair, whereas "body hair" includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four fundamental stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the sample's introduction into the lab's framework. This step involves confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any information not captured by an electronic chain of custody protocol.

Screening offers an initial rapid assessment of substance abuse. Although Screening is an economical means of excluding drug use for most samples, a positive finding must be verified to be legally valid. Samples that test positive at Screening require additional verification.

Should a sample yield a positive indication in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at lower concentrations compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug screening.

Positive Screening outcomes undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are cleansed prior to Confirmation as necessary. The full laboratory sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes scrutiny as per the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests reveal substance use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with shorter durations.
• High integrity: Tampering with hair drug tests is exceedingly difficult, enhancing accuracy and reliability.
• Historical insight: It offers patterns of substance use over time, rather than only recent activity.

Limitations:

• Lack of recent detection: Drugs typically become detectable in hair around 5-7 days post-use.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests incur higher costs compared to alternate testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth rates can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Referred to as "hair follicle tests," the assessment evaluates the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Wellington, IL, hair follicle testing holds distinct advantages over urine testing. Hair analysis detects drug use over a longer duration, offering superior insights into a person's substance consumption. Unlike urine tests, which can be cheated or adulterated, hair tests provide reliable and accurate results, establishing them as a preferred choice for comprehensive drug screening.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Wellington, IL, value the extended detection window provided by hair follicle testing. This method can identify drug usage over a span of up to 90 days, offering a detailed overview of an individual's substance history. Hair tests serve as a vigilant screening tool, enabling companies to make informed hiring and monitoring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing process in Wellington, IL, greatly reduces the chance of sample tampering. Due to the structure of the hair sample, attempts to adulterate or substitute it are virtually impossible. This robustness ensures that results are trustworthy and unquestionable.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing services are conveniently available nationwide, including Wellington, IL. Our expansive network ensures that individuals and employers can access drug testing services quickly and hassle-free, whether at local centers or across the country, enhancing convenience and accessibility.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Wellington, IL, the process of hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. From ordering the test to collection and obtaining results, each step is designed to uphold privacy and ease for users, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Wellington, IL, our hair follicle testing services shine with their affordable pricing and fast turnaround. These advantages make our services accessible to companies of all sizes, offering excellent value while ensuring timely results for peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Wellington, IL, the efficiency of hair follicle drug tests is unmatched. They deliver fast, accurate, and reliable outcomes, thanks to their ability to precisely identify substance use. This high level of accuracy stems from the nature of hair samples, making them practically immune to tampering and ensuring credible test results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Wellington, IL, hair follicle testing assures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method minimizes legal risks and enhances safety within the work environment by maintaining a vigilant stance on substance 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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