Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Whiteash, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a consistent record of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. When cut close to the scalp, it can reveal substance use within a roughly 90-day period. Hair sampling is easy to perform, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of approximately 200 hairs (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg, the preferred amount for testing. For EtG, additional tests, or panels over 10, 150mg of hair is advisable. It's best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn't available, a comparable amount of body hair can be used. When we discuss head hair, we mean scalp hair. Body hair includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The procedure for processing a drug test in a laboratory consists of Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the process of integrating a sample into a lab’s system. This step confirms the sample's sealing and shipment, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any remaining data input not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. Although cost-effective for eliminating drug use in most cases, any positive screen must be confirmed for legal acceptance. Samples testing positive during Screening require further verification.

Should a sample test positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted for the Extraction phase. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at a much lower concentration than other methods (like urine or oral fluid), making hair screening notably complex.

Confirmation for any positive screen happens using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are washed before confirmation as necessary. The entire process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, adheres to CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeline: Hair tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have shorter timelines.
• Hard to manipulate: Hair testing is difficult to deceive, increasing result reliability.
• Shows usage trends: It displays a pattern of usage over time, not just recent activity.

Limitations:

• Lack of detection for recent use: Drugs usually appear in hair 5-7 days after use.
• Price: Hair testing tends to be costlier than alternative methods.
• Result variability: Different hair colors and individual growth rates may influence metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Often termed "hair follicle tests", these tests actually analyze the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Whiteash, IL surpasses urine tests by offering enhanced accuracy and reliability. The ability to detect drugs through hair analysis offers superior evidence of substance use absent in traditional urine tests.

Employers in Whiteash benefit from hair testing’s extensive detection and accuracy compared to urine tests, ensuring policies are enforced with clarity and confidence.

Extended Detection Window

Thanks to its extended detection window, hair follicle testing can capture a comprehensive substance history in Whiteash, IL, covering up to 90 days. This is crucial for employers assessing long-term drug use.

Hair analysis presents a detailed timeline of presence, allowing Whiteash employers to make informed decisions based on three-month usage patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Whiteash, IL relies on hair follicle tests to significantly reduce tampering risks. The method secures reliable outcomes, diminishing the chances of adulteration seen in other tests.

Mistrust due to tampered samples diminishes when using hair tests, as they ensure authenticity and accurate results for personnel screening purposes in Whiteash.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide and local testing centers in Whiteash, IL, facilitate convenient access to essential hair follicle testing services. This infrastructure guarantees a quick, seamless testing experience.

Testing across Whiteash always remains accessible with Accredited Drug Testing, providing hassle-free engagement through our extensive network.

Simple, Confidential Process

The testing process in Whiteash, IL, is straightforward and protects client privacy. From the order to the receipt of results, our services guarantee secure and confidential handling.

Individuals requiring hair tests can confidently navigate the process, knowing their information remains confidential and the procedure, effortless.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable pricing in Whiteash, IL, pairs with the swift turnaround provided by hair follicle drug testing, offering cost-effective solutions while ensuring peace of mind for organizations.

Companies of all sizes benefit from competitive costs and rapid results, ensuring compliance is maintained without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Whiteash, IL, hair follicle drug tests provide fast and dependable results. Their precision in identifying substance use is unparalleled, offering clear and thorough insights into an individual's drug history.

With hair testing, results are not only quick but also reliably accurate, providing stakeholders in Whiteash with a trustworthy assessment of recent and remote drug usage.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Whiteash, IL, find peace of mind using hair follicle testing to adhere to drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal risks associated with non-compliance.

The reliability and thoroughness of hair tests reinforce workplace safety protocols, assuring peace of mind for business leaders dedicated to compliant and safe environments.

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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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