Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Marshfield Hills, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Rather than monitoring immediate usage, hair documents a prolonged record of substance intake, capturing biomarkers within its fibers as it grows. A sample taken near the scalp can offer up to a three-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. The collection process is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch specimen comprising around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil in size) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or examinations over 10 panels, 150mg is advised. We suggest using a jeweler's scale to assess the sample's weight. If scalp hair is not accessible, a similar quantity of body hair is an alternative. When mentioning head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (such as facial or axillary).

Process Overview

The drug testing lab processing consists of four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. This encompasses ensuring the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any needed data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for substances of abuse. Though it is a cost-efficient method to identify drug presence in most samples, a confirmed positive from screening is required for court admission. Samples testing presumptively positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

In cases where Screening results are presumptively positive, additional hair is taken from the initial sample for Extraction. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at concentrations much lower than with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluids), hence why hair analysis is regarded as a challenging technique.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed utilizing GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Any samples testing presumptively positive are washed before confirmation as needed. The complete lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair certification and the standards set by ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can reveal substance use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests, which identify recent usage.
• Challenging to falsify: Due to the difficulty in tampering with a hair drug test, results tend to be more precise.
• Chronological data provided: It can indicate drug use patterns over time, instead of only detecting recent intake.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair only after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Compared to other methods, hair drug testing is usually costlier.
• Result variability: Drug metabolite levels in hair may be impacted by variables such as hair color and individual hair growth rates.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests," the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Marshfield Hills, MA: Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. They provide a more reliable overview of drug use, capturing a longer detection period and minimizing the chances of false negatives or tampering. As a result, hair testing is the preferred choice for accurate assessments.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Marshfield Hills, MA: Hair follicle testing can reveal drug usage over an extended period of up to 90 days. This long detection window offers employers in-depth insights into an employee or applicant's drug history, allowing for more informed decision-making regarding their suitability and reliability.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Marshfield Hills, MA: Hair follicle tests are inherently resistant to tampering, significantly lowering the risk of sample adulteration. This feature ensures that the results are reliable and trustworthy, thus providing peace of mind to both employers and test subjects.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Marshfield Hills, MA: Our expansive network of testing centers across the nation provides convenient access to services, making the testing process swift and hassle-free. This accessibility ensures that clients can easily and quickly utilize testing services with minimal disruption.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Marshfield Hills, MA: The hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential, designed to protect individual privacy while ensuring ease of use. Clients can comfortably order, undertake tests, and receive results, knowing their sensitive information remains private and secure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Marshfield Hills, MA: Our competitive pricing alongside rapid turnaround times provides excellent value for companies of all sizes. Clients benefit from affordable solutions without sacrificing quality, making investment in drug testing a feasible and worthwhile decision.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Marshfield Hills, MA: Hair follicle drug tests are noted for their speed and accuracy, swiftly identifying substance use with precision. Due to their comprehensive detection capabilities, these tests stand out as reliable, ensuring that results are both quick and dependable for those who need timely assessments.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Marshfield Hills, MA: Utilizing hair follicle testing helps employers maintain compliance with drug-free policies, mitigating legal risks and bolstering workplace safety. This proactive approach assures companies that they adhere to industry standards, fostering a safer 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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