Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dighton, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is regarded as a formidable method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of alcohol and other drugs by locking biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer up to an approximate three-month detection window for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, moderately challenging to tamper with, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hairs (roughly the diameter of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample for analyses and verification. For EtG, supplementary tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It's recommended to weigh the specimen with a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent amount of body hair may be collected. When mentioning head hair, it refers to scalp hair solely. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The central steps in processing a drug test in a laboratory setting include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves preliminary processing of a sample within a laboratory system. This entails verifying that the sample was sealed and dispatched correctly, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody process.

Screening entails an initial comprehensive check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an efficient way to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive screening result requires confirmation to be valid in court. Presumptively positive samples from Screening need a secondary verification.

If a sample is deemed presumptively positive during the Screening process, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a significantly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is the reason why hair drug screening is the most complex method to perform.

Verification of any positive screening findings is carried out via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and the certification to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can reveal drug usage for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Hard to deceive: It is notably challenging to manipulate a hair drug test, rendering the outcomes more precise.
• Delivers historical insight: It can display a usage pattern over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent usage: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to appear in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than other drug testing techniques.
• Result variability: Variables such as hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug residues in the hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the examination focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In comparing hair follicle with traditional urine tests in Dighton, Massachusetts, hair testing is superior in many ways. It has the edge when it comes to reliable detection methods. The process involves collecting a small hair sample, offering greater detection accuracy than urine analysis.

Hair testing beats urine tests in detection accuracy and reliability. Its refusal rates and chances of yielding false results are notably lower, establishing it as a trustworthy testing method. The extended detection window and higher reliability make it superior to traditional urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

In Dighton, MA, hair follicle testing is invaluable for its ability to provide an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This makes it the optimal choice for employers seeking to assess an individual's long-term drug history, offering insight beyond short-term consumption patterns.

Employers can rely on hair follicle testing for tracking long-term substance use, providing a comprehensive view of an employee's or applicant's history. This extended window, superior to urine testing, assures clear insight into one's lifestyle.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Dighton, MA is renowned for being a tamper-resistant method, greatly minimizing the risk of sample manipulation. This ensures the delivery of reliable, indisputable results that allay concerns about test validity.

With its stringent protocols for sample collection and analysis, the potential for adulteration is significantly reduced, providing a transparent and trustworthy result. This makes hair tests stand apart from other methods where tampering is more feasible.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing facilitates convenient access to testing throughout Dighton, MA and nationwide. With numerous centers available, scheduling a test is simple and hassle-free, providing ease of access to our comprehensive testing services.

The wide network of testing sites across the country offers quick and easy access for both local residents and businesses in need of efficient testing solutions, ensuring that help is never far from reach.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process of hair follicle testing in Dighton, MA is simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving test results, we ensure robust privacy protection, addressing concerns about data security and confidentiality.

Undergoing a test is straightforward with minimal preparation needed, and results are securely delivered to the client. This ease of process makes it an attractive option for individuals seeking worry-free testing solutions.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Dighton, MA, we offer hair follicle testing with affordable pricing and a fast turnaround, catering to businesses of all sizes. Our cost-efficient structures ensure excellent value without compromising service quality.

With quick processing times and competitive rates, hair follicle testing becomes an accessible option for companies, providing efficient and budget-friendly solutions for substance screening needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Dighton, MA offer fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests are designed for speedy processing, allowing for quick results that don't compromise on quality. Hair testing provides high precision in identifying substance use, ensuring that employers and institutions receive dependable data.

One of the main advantages is the precision of hair tests in detecting drugs. They identify drug use accurately, giving a complete picture. In addition, the rapid turnaround time of hair follicle tests makes them an efficient choice for those in need of timely verification.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Dighton, MA, using hair follicle testing assures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal risks and promotes workplace safety by delivering transparent and dependable results.

Implementing hair follicle drug testing gives employers peace of mind. By maintaining a strict zero-tolerance policy and ensuring compliance with regulations, businesses can confidently provide a safe work environment, free from the worry of drug-related incidents.

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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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