Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Yale, IL

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a potent method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a long-term record of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When taken close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to around three months for alcohol and other drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to ship.

A 1.5-inch sample comprising approximately 200 hair strands (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample size for screening and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. We encourage using a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample. If scalp hair is lacking, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When discussing head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types, such as facial and axillary hair.

Process Overview

The principal steps in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary handling of a sample into a lab's system. This comprises verifying that the sample was securely sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any remaining data entry not handled by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening pertains to an initial rapid drug check. While Screening is cost-effective for ruling out drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed to be acceptable in court. Any samples that screen presumptively positive require a secondary confirmation.

For samples that screen presumptively positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging technique to perform.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that test presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, whereas urine tests offer a shorter detection window.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating a hair drug test is challenging, ensuring more precise results.
• Provides historical data: It delivers a pattern of drug usage over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests generally have higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Variations in results: Factors like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests," the test analyzes the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing in Yale, IL, surpasses traditional urine tests in numerous ways. It offers superior detection accuracy, giving a well-rounded view of an individual's drug use history. Unlike urine tests, it can detect substances over a far longer period, ensuring that no recent drug use goes unnoticed. This makes hair tests ideal for organizations aiming to enforce rigorous drug-free policies.
Furthermore, while urine tests can sometimes be manipulated, hair testing offers a tamper-proof alternative, providing assurance of reliability and precision.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Yale, IL, is distinguished by its extended detection window, which can trace drug use up to 90 days prior. This lengthy timeframe is instrumental for employers and legal entities seeking comprehensive insights into an individual's substance history.
Unlike other methods with shorter detection periods, hair testing offers invaluable data into long-term drug usage patterns, making it a superior choice for a thorough assessment of an applicant or employee. This allows for informed decisions and proactive management of workplace safety and compliance.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Boasting a tamper-resistant testing method, hair follicle tests in Yale, IL, significantly mitigate the risk of sample adulteration. This undeniable reliability ensures the integrity of the results, providing assurances to employers and legal entities.
Compared to other testing methods that are more susceptible to tampering, hair tests offer a robust mechanism that guarantees the authenticity of the results. With these tests, organizations can confidently enforce their drug-free policies without concerns over compromised test integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient access to drug testing through our extensive network of nationwide locations, including facilities in Yale, IL. Our centers are strategically located to offer quick and easy access to testing services, eliminating the hassles associated with scheduling and logistics.
These local testing options streamline the process, allowing individuals and organizations to gain timely and efficient access to reliable drug testing services without unnecessary delays.

Simple, Confidential Process

Our process for hair follicle testing in Yale, IL, is simple and confidential. From ordering the test to receiving the results, every step is designed to be user-friendly and secure. We emphasize privacy, ensuring all personal data is protected while meeting compliance standards.
This streamlined approach alleviates concerns surrounding complexity or intrusiveness, making the testing experience smooth and stress-free. With clear instruction and timely communication, all parties are kept informed throughout the process.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Yale, IL, offers affordable pricing and fast turnaround for hair follicle tests. Our competitive pricing ensures exceptional value without compromising on the quality of service or accuracy of results.
The speedy delivery of accurate results enables companies to make decisions promptly, providing peace of mind across organizations of all sizes. Our cost-efficient solutions appeal to a range of clients, from small businesses to large corporations, facilitating accessible and reliable testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests are renowned for providing fast, accurate, and dependable results in Yale, IL. Their precision in detecting substance use is unmatched, offering clarity and reliability.
These tests ensure a higher level of accuracy, capturing detailed insights into an individual's substance use, which gives confidence both to the test takers and administrators.

Speed is another hallmark of hair testing, providing timely results that facilitate quick decision-making. This efficiency is particularly beneficial for employers needing to make critical hiring or disciplinary decisions. With high accuracy and swift turnaround, hair tests serve as a crucial part of a thorough substance use assessment strategy.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Implementing hair follicle testing in Yale, IL, ensures compliance and peace of mind for employers. This testing method helps in maintaining adherence to workplace drug-free policies, effectively reducing legal risks and enhancing overall workplace safety.
By offering a reliable means of drug testing, companies can fortify their commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant work environment. This not only avoids potential legal pitfalls but also fosters trust and transparency within the organization.

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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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