Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Woodland, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a significant method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a long-term record of alcohol and drug presence by encapsulating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. Collected near the scalp, hair can reveal drug and alcohol use for up to three months. It is straightforward to collect, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for testing and verification. For EtG, additional analysis, or tests beyond 10 panels, a 150mg specimen is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for precise weighing. Should scalp hair be inaccessible, a comparable quantity of body hair may be sourced. By head hair, we exclusively mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

In the laboratory, drug test results involve four primary phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the preliminary processing of a sample into the lab’s system. This stage ensures the sample’s proper sealing and shipping, assigns an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening involves a rapid initial test to check for drugs. Although Screening is a budget-friendly method to dismiss drug usage in most cases, a positive screen must be confirmed for legal admissibility. Samples with presumptive positive screens necessitate a secondary confirmation.

If initial Screening is presumptively positive, more hair is taken from the original sample for Extraction. During Extraction, drugs are separated from hair at a lesser concentration than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex methodology to execute.

The Confirmation of any positive screening is achieved using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Positive samples undergo washing before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated based on both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection period.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is difficult, ensuring the results are more reliable.
• Offers historical insights: It reveals patterns of drug use over a timeline, not just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect immediate use: It generally takes 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests tend to be pricier than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Aspects such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the test evaluates the hair strand itself, not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Woodland, IL

In comparison to traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing provides a far more extended detection period, typically up to 90 days.

The unparalleled accuracy and reliability of hair testing illustrate its superiority over urine tests, making it impossible to fake results, thus ensuring the integrity of the testing process for employers.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Woodland, IL

With the ability to trace drug use up to 90 days prior, hair follicle testing offers a thorough view of one's substance use history. This extended window surpasses the capability of other testing methods, granting employers a detailed insight into the lifestyle of prospective or current employees in Woodland, IL. This facilitates informed hiring and monitoring decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Woodland, IL

Hair follicle tests boast significant resistance to manipulation, significantly lowering the possibility of sample tampering or adulteration. This ensures that results are both reliable and indisputable, important aspects for employers in Woodland, IL, keen on maintaining the utmost level of integrity in their drug testing processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Woodland, IL

Enjoy the convenience of our widespread testing sites nationwide, which streamline the process for drug testing. In Woodland, IL, accessing swift and straightforward testing services from nearby locations is hassle-free, saving time and providing peace of mind to those in need of testing services.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Woodland, IL

The straightforward and confidential nature of hair follicle testing addresses privacy concerns, from ordering to sample collection and result receipt. In Woodland, IL, this seamless process not only ensures ease but also privacy, alleviating any worries about the confidentiality of personal health information.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Woodland, IL

We offer competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, providing exceptional value for companies of all sizes. In Woodland, IL, this ensures cost-effective solutions without sacrificing quality, giving employers economical access to reliable testing methods and quick results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Woodland, IL

Hair follicle drug tests are renowned for their precision and rapidity. They deliver highly accurate readings of substance abuse, providing results with superior reliability compared to other screening methods. In Woodland, IL, this ensures that employers can rely on quick results.
Employers can confidently evaluate potential candidates or employees, creating a safer workplace environment.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Woodland, IL

Employing hair follicle testing ensures adherence to workplace drug-free policies. Such practices mitigate legal risks and enhance overall workplace safety.

In Woodland, IL, employers can rest assured, knowing that staff members meet compliance criteria, fundamentally promoting a secure working environment.

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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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