Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Abington, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has become recognized as an effective method for uncovering drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of substances by capturing markers within the fibers of the growing strands. When taken near the scalp, hair reveals up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches containing roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) near the scalp yields 100mg, the preferred quantity for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. We advise the use of a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair is not accessible, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. In terms of head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair only. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The lab processing of drug test results includes four core steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning deals with the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. This process ensures the sample is sealed and dispatched correctly, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any further data not submitted via an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary rapid evaluation for drug abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach for excluding drug usage in most samples, any positive outcome requires confirmation to be legally acceptable. Samples with a presumptively positive result in Screening necessitate a secondary validation.

When a sample tests presumptively positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Extraction. Here, drugs are retrieved from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (like urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug testing the most complex to conduct.

Confirmation of positive Screening outcomes is executed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The whole lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is supervised under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and ISO / IEC 17025 standards adherence.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug assessments can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection timeline.
• Hard to manipulate: It is exceedingly challenging to falsify a hair drug test, ensuring more reliable results.
• Chronological data: It outlines drug usage over a timespan, instead of merely recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to discern recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments are typically costlier than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although frequently termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing stands as the superior option over traditional urine tests for Abington, MA residents. Unlike urine tests, hair tests meticulously identify substance use with greater accuracy and reliability.
As hair stores drugs longer, it offers a historical look at substance use, making it ideal for organizations aiming for thorough evaluations.

Extended Detection Window

In Abington, MA, hair follicle testing offers a remarkable detection period of up to 90 days, enabling a thorough understanding of an individual's drug history.
Employers benefit from a holistic view of an applicant's prior substance use, equipping them to make more informed hiring decisions with confidence.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

For Abington, MA, hair follicle testing is a robust method against sample tampering. It provides reliable and unquestionable findings,
as hair is much more difficult to adulterate compared to urine samples, ensuring that results remain untampered and trustworthy for important assessments.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Abington, MA, our testing facilities are conveniently found nationwide, providing seamless and hassle-free access to drug testing services.
This widespread availability allows individuals to complete tests promptly and efficiently, maximizing convenience for both employees and employers.

Simple, Confidential Process

The hair follicle testing procedure in Abington, MA is both simple and confidential, relieving concerns about privacy and ease of use.
From ordering the test to taking it and receiving results, each step is designed for your convenience, assuring a discreet and user-friendly experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Abington, MA offers competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle testing, providing excellent value for businesses.
Our cost-effective solutions ensure companies, regardless of size, receive premium service and peace of mind without compromising their budgets.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Abington, MA, hair follicle drug tests are synonymous with precision and speed. These tests offer crucial benefits, ensuring that even minimal substance use is flagged with outstanding accuracy.
Their efficiency and reliability empower companies, providing clarity and swift results to make informed decisions about current employees and new hires.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Using hair follicle testing in Abington, MA ensures companies comply with drug-free workplace policies, effectively minimizing legal threats.
This testing method promotes a safer environment, offering peace of mind for employers committed to maintaining a reliable and secure work setting.

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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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