Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Lynnfield, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged history of substance use by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When collected near the scalp, hair can deliver up to approximately a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. It is easy to collect, relatively hard to tamper with, and straightforward to send.

A 1.5-inch section comprising roughly 200 strands of hair (approximately the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for testing and verification. For EtG, enhanced tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it is advised to collect 150mg of the specimen. Using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen is suggested. If no scalp hair is available, a comparable weight of body hair may be harvested. When discussing head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four primary stages in the lab handling of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial intake of a sample into a lab’s framework. This step involves checking that the sample was correctly sealed and transported, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any additional data input absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening involves a preliminary rapid examination for the presence of drugs. While Screening is a cost-effective approach to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive outcome must be verified for acceptability in court. Any samples showing presumptive positive results in Screening require a secondary verification.

If a sample is presumptively positive during Screening, extra hair is taken from the original specimen and set up for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are drawn out from hair at a remarkably lower concentration than seen in other methodologies (such as urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug analysis is one of the trickiest methodologies to execute.

Verification of any positive screening result is accomplished through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positive results are cleaned before confirmation if needed. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes evaluation under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation conforming to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection timeframe: Hair drug analyses can identify drug use for up to 90 days, compared to urine tests which have a more abbreviated detection period.
• Hard to manipulate: It is extremely challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy of the findings.
• Offers historical insight: It can deliver a sustained pattern of drug usage over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect immediate use: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• More expensive: Hair drug tests typically incur a higher cost than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual disparities in hair growth can influence the level of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: While frequently called "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Lynnfield, MA, hair follicle tests provide a significant edge over traditional urine tests. Greater Detection Accuracy is achieved due to hair's ability to retain drug traces far longer, making it a superior choice.

The Reliability of hair testing ensures that results hold up under scrutiny, providing employers, courts, and other entities confidence in their drug testing processes.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Lynnfield, MA offers an impressive detection window of up to 90 days, providing a long-term view of substance use.

This extensive detection range allows employers to gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual's drug history, promoting better-informed decision-making and enhancing workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

By choosing hair follicle testing in Lynnfield, MA, you significantly reduce the risk of tampering. Unquestionable Integrity of results is assured with this method, as it's nearly impossible to alter hair samples once collected.

The robust nature of hair analysis further ensures secure and reliable outcomes, supporting both compliance and peace of mind.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our network of testing centers spans both the nation and local areas like Lynnfield, MA, facilitating easy access to our dependable testing services.

This convenience means whether you're nearby or nationwide, getting tested is straightforward, quick, and hassle-free, ensuring optimal accessibility for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

We prioritize a simple and confidential process in Lynnfield, MA for ordering, conducting, and receiving drug test results, ensuring discretion at every stage.

Concerns regarding privacy are addressed with utmost care, providing ease of use and peace of mind to all individuals seeking our services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive pricing and quick turnaround times characterize our hair follicle testing services in Lynnfield, MA, offering great value for businesses regardless of size.

With a focus on affordability, we aim to provide excellent service while maintaining rapid result delivery, reinforcing trust and satisfaction among our clients.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Our hair follicle drug testing services in Lynnfield, MA stand out for delivering fast, accurate, and dependable results. Speed and Precision are key as tests swiftly identify even minimal traces of substances in your system, ensuring reliability.

With hair follicle testing, the high degree of accuracy in recognizing drug use enables a trusted detection process, giving peace of mind to both individuals and organizations seeking test results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Lynnfield, MA can benefit from hair follicle testing, securing compliance with drug-free workplace policies and minimizing legal risks.

This method bolsters workplace safety by offering a fully traceable and tamper-resistant option, providing confidence and peace of mind for employers.

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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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