Hair Follicle Drug Testing - West Chicago, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly regarded as a robust technique for identifying alcohol and drug use. Hair can capture a historical record of alcohol and drugs by embedding biomarkers in the strands of growing hair. When obtained near the scalp, hair offers a detection span of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and convenient for transportation.

A 1.5-inch section consisting of about 200 hair strands (similar in size to a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for evaluation and validation. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample weighing 150mg is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale for measuring the specimen is suggested. If scalp hair is unavailable, a comparable amount of body hair should be used. References to head hair specifically mean scalp hair, whereas body hair encompasses other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of a drug test result incorporates four major phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning incorporates the primary handling of a sample within a lab system, ensuring the sample's seal and shipment's integrity, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry not managed by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as an initial assessment for substances of misuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient strategy to exclude drug use in most samples, any positive screen must be verified to be court-admissible. Any samples preliminarily positive in Screening require an additional confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive, additional hair from the original sample is extracted for further analysis. During Extraction, drugs are retrieved from hair at a lower concentration than seen with other procedures (e.g., urine or saliva), making hair drug testing particularly challenging to execute.

GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS methods confirm any positive screening results. All samples flagged as presumptive positives are cleaned prior to confirmation if necessary. The complete lab sequence from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes inspections under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair classification and adherence to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing identifies drug usage for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests cover a shorter timespan.
• Challenging to falsify: Evading a hair drug test is notably arduous, enhancing the result’s fidelity.
• Chronological data provision: It outlines drug use trends over durations, extending beyond immediate usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent usage: Drugs become traceable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be higher in cost compared to alternative drug test methods.
• Result discrepancies: Variables such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: While colloquially termed "hair follicle tests", the examination assesses the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In West Chicago, IL, hair follicle testing outperforms traditional urine tests. It ensures superior detection accuracy, providing reliability that employers seek. Its ability to check for substances over a wider timeframe offers a detailed look into past usage. Unlike urine tests, hair analysis is less susceptible to tampering, which results in more dependable and trustworthy outcomes.

Extended Detection Window

The extended detection window of hair follicle testing is a significant advantage in West Chicago, IL. Able to unveil drug use up to 90 days prior, this method offers employers a thorough perspective on an individual's substance patterns. Such comprehensive insights aid businesses in making informed hiring or employment decisions, ensuring a drug-free workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In West Chicago, IL, hair follicle testing is renowned for its tamper-resistant properties. This testing method minimizes the risk of specimen adulteration, yielding results that are both trustworthy and consistent. Its design inherently guards against tampering, thereby providing employers and authorities with reliable data crucial for decision-making.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessing drug testing services in West Chicago, IL is convenient with our nationwide testing centers. We eliminate hassles, enabling easy reach to both local and widespread locations. The seamless process guarantees that individuals or companies can engage testing services efficiently, without the stress of logistical challenges or long wait times.

Simple, Confidential Process

Ordering and conducting hair follicle tests in West Chicago, IL is simple and confidential. From initiation to receiving results, our process respects privacy and ensures ease of use. Those seeking tests can appreciate a discreet handling of their needs, highlighting our commitment to confidentiality and user-friendly operations.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In West Chicago, IL, we offer competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times for hair follicle drug tests. Our commitment to affordability ensures that businesses, regardless of size, can benefit from quality testing without a hefty financial burden. Our quick service delivery enhances value, fostering trust and satisfaction with our pricing model.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in West Chicago, IL offer unparalleled accuracy in detecting substances. This method ensures fast and reliable results, making it a preferred choice for many. The precision in identifying drug traces over extended periods gives confidence to employers and legal professionals alike. The quick turnaround time further adds to its appeal, ensuring decisions can be made without unnecessary delays.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in West Chicago, IL can gain peace of mind by deploying hair follicle tests. This testing aids in maintaining compliance with drug-free workplace policies and reduces potential legal liabilities. When integrating such practices, companies bolster safety and formulate stronger, anti-drug environments, aligning with regulatory and moral standards.

Drug Testing Near West Chicago, IL

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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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