Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Essex, MA

What it is, How it works

The utilization of hair testing has emerged as an influential method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair serves as a comprehensive record of alcohol and drug use, capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the strand as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can offer an approximate detection window of up to 3 months for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, resilient against tampering, and straightforward to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp provides 100mg of hair, the optimal amount for both screening and confirmation purposes. For EtG, additional panels, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest measuring the sample using a jeweler’s scale. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair may be used. When we mention head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair, while body hair refers to any other types (such as facial or axillary hair).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result involves four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning comprises the initial integration of the sample into a laboratory’s system. This step includes ensuring the sample was properly sealed and dispatched, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides a preliminary assessment for drugs of abuse. While cost-effective for eliminating drug usage in most samples, a positive screening must be confirmed to be court-acceptable. Any samples showing presumptive positivity in Screening require further confirmation.

Should a sample test positive during the Screening stage, additional hair is taken from the original specimen for the Extraction process. Here, drugs are extracted from hair at considerably lower concentrations than in methods such as urine or oral fluid testing, which is why hair drug screening is renowned as one of the most complex methodologies.

Confirmation of a positive screening result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive undergo washing before confirmation if needed. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the entire laboratory workflow is checked under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal substance use for up to 90 days, while urine tests have a shorter detection scope.
• Difficult to falsify: Cheating on a hair drug test is extremely challenging, enhancing the accuracy of results.
• Chronological data: It can show an extended pattern of drug use over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It usually takes 5-7 days for substances to manifest in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests typically incur higher expenses than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually focuses on the hair strand, excluding the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Advantages of Hair Testing Over Urine Tests in Essex, MA

When comparing hair follicle and traditional urine tests, hair tests clearly surpass in detection accuracy. Their edge lies in reliability, discovering long-term substance use with precision. This makes hair testing a preferred choice for those needing comprehensive and credible detection methods.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Capabilities in Essex, MA

Hair follicle tests offer a substantial advantage with their up to 90-day detection window. This provides employers with a thorough picture of an individual's drug history, unlike urine tests with shorter detection spans. It serves as a vital tool for ensuring informed personnel decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Secured Testing Worth Trust in Essex, MA

The risk of sample tampering is significantly minimized with hair follicle testing. This method provides results that are not only accurate but impossible to adulterate, ensuring that the received outcomes remain trustworthy and authentic, protecting the integrity of the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Centers Across Essex, MA

With a network of nationwide and local centers, scheduling a test is simple and efficient. The widespread availability ensures easy access to services, making it convenient for individuals and employers who value quick and hassle-free testing procedures.

Simple, Confidential Process

Effortless and Private Testing in Essex, MA

Hair follicle testing offers a streamlined and private process. The approach ensures confidentiality from scheduling to outcome delivery, addressing privacy concerns while maintaining ease of use, embodying both discretion and efficiency in testing.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Cost-Effective & Swift Services in Essex, MA

Our hair follicle tests offer competitive rates and fast result deliveries, making them an ideal option for businesses of any scale. They provide great value through reasonable pricing coupled with speedy turnarounds, delivering assurance to all companies.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Speedy, Accurate, Reliable Outcomes in Essex, MA

Hair follicle drug tests guarantee rapid results. These tests stand out for their unparalleled precision in identifying substance use, ensuring quick and reliable feedback essential for informed decision-making. With such accuracy, it's no wonder employers and agencies nationwide rely on hair testing.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance Assurance for Essex, MA Employers

Employers can maintain peace of mind by incorporating hair follicle testing within their drug-free work environments. This method secures compliance with regulations, reduces legal exposures, and fosters a safe working atmosphere, promoting workplace well-being and security.

Drug Testing Near Essex, MA

Boxford, MA

North Andover, MA

Andover, MA

Shawsheen Village, MA

Amesbury Town, MA

Methuen, MA

Lawrence, MA

Georgetown, MA

West Newbury, MA

Merrimac, MA

West Boxford, MA

Groveland, MA

Haverhill, MA

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews