Hair Follicle Drug Testing - East Bridgewater, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has become recognized as an effective means for detecting drug and alcohol use. Hair can provide a long-term record of alcohol and drug intake by embedding biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When gathered close to the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to gather, challenging to alter, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches comprising approximately 200 hair strands (similar to a #2 pencil) adjacent to the scalp will yield around 100mg of hair, which is the perfect quantity for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, it is advisable to use 150mg of hair. We recommend using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is not available, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. By head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Other hair, like facial or axillary hair, falls under body hair.

Process Overview

The hair drug test laboratory processing is divided into four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning handles the initial integration of a sample into the lab’s system. This includes confirming the sealed and proper shipment of the sample, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional information not covered by an electronic custody system.

Screening conducts a preliminary assessment for drug presence. It serves as an economical method to exclude drug usage in most samples, although any positive screening still requires confirmation for legal validity. Samples with a presumptive positive in Screening must undergo further verification.

In cases of a presumptive positive at the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for the Extraction phase. This phase retrieves drugs from hair at substantially lower concentrations than other approaches (e.g., urine or oral fluid), illustrating why hair drug testing is challenging.

Positive screening results are validated using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Presumptive positive samples are cleaned before confirmation, as necessary. The entire laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation norms.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter window of urine tests.
• Challenging to bypass: The likelihood of tampering with hair drug tests is low, enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical insight: It offers a record of drug use over time, not just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur higher costs than other testing methods.
• Outcome variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Often labeled as "hair follicle tests," such analyses target the hair strand and not the underlying hair follicle.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When compared with traditional urine tests, hair follicle testing in East Bridgewater, MA, stands out as it offers superior detection capabilities. Unlike urine testing, hair testing can identify substances long after use, ensuring accuracy and minimizing false results.

• Extended detection periods give a more thorough overview of drug use.
• Challenges in manipulating hair samples make them more reliable.

For businesses seeking effective testing methods, hair testing proves invaluable.

Extended Detection Window

The ability to detect drug use up to 90 days prior distinguishes hair follicle testing in East Bridgewater, MA, as a superior method for employers. This extended window provides a comprehensive view of an individual’s substance history.

• This method aids employers in making informed employment decisions.
• Helps maintain a drug-free workplace.

The long detection range of hair tests offers businesses a clear advantage in screening.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In East Bridgewater, MA, hair follicle tests offer a best-in-class solution against tampering. The structure of hair makes it nearly impossible to adulterate, thereby ensuring unquestionable results.

• Sample integrity remains intact through collection.
• Reduces the risk of fake or erroneous results.

Hair testing's tamper-resistant nature guarantees the validity of the results provided.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience is key with nationwide testing centers, including locations in East Bridgewater, MA, offering quick, hassle-free access to testing.

• Ensures easy access for companies and candidates alike.
• Reduces the wait time for appointments and results.

With numerous centers, our services are tailored to provide optimal convenience and efficiency.

Simple, Confidential Process

In East Bridgewater, MA, the hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. Ordering, taking, and receiving results are straightforward, addressing privacy concerns.

• This ensures sensitive handling of personal information.
• The process is designed for ease of use for all parties involved.

Customer confidence is assured through our transparent testing procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

East Bridgewater, MA companies benefit from our competitive pricing and fast turnarounds. Our services offer not just value, but also reliability.

• Cost-effective solutions suited to businesses of all sizes.
• Quick results allow for timely action.

With our affordable rates, businesses maintain assurance of value and performance in testing services.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In East Bridgewater, MA, the hair follicle drug tests deliver results that are both fast and highly accurate. These tests are designed to detect even the slightest traces of substance use, ensuring precision and reliability in substance detection.

• Speedy results help employers make timely decisions.
• The high sensitivity of hair testing reduces the likelihood of a false negative.

For those in need of dependable drug testing, hair follicle tests provide unmatched precision.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in East Bridgewater, MA, find peace of mind in using hair follicle testing, ensuring they maintain compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This testing method reduces legal risks.

• Enhances workplace safety.
• Mitigates potential liability from untested substance abuse.

With hair testing, businesses can be assured of compliance and safety, contributing to a secure work 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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