Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Millers Falls, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as a robust method for detecting drug and alcohol consumption. It offers a prolonged view of alcohol and drug use history by capturing biomarkers within the strands of growing hair. When taken from near the scalp, hair can show a drug and alcohol detection period of approximately three months. Hair collection is straightforward, not easily tampered with, and simple to transport.

Collecting a 1.5-inch segment of about 200 hair strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the preferred sample size for both screening and confirmation. For tests including EtG, add-ons, or over 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is suggested. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to measure the specimen. If scalp hair can't be gathered, an equivalent portion of body hair may be used. By head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

There are four primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the first stage where a sample is processed into a lab's system. This step confirms proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as an initial rapid assessment for drug use. While it is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use for most samples, a positive screen needs confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples indicating a presumptive positive result in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

If a specimen shows a presumptive positive result in Screening, more hair is extracted from the original sample and prepped for Extraction. During this stage, drugs are isolated from hair at a concentration far lower than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging method to execute.

Positive results from screening undergo Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. All samples that test presumptively positive are washed before confirmation if necessary. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, while urine tests offer a shorter detection frame.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is very difficult, leading to more reliable results.
• Shows historical patterns: Provides insight into drug use trends over time, rather than just recent activities.

Limitations:

• Not suitable for recent use detection: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: The term "hair follicle tests" is often used, but the analysis involves the hair shaft, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Choosing Hair Testing Over Urine Testing in Millers Falls, MA

When comparing hair follicle testing to traditional urine tests, the enhanced accuracy and reliability of hair testing become apparent. Hair tests offer a deeper insight into substance use, making them a preferred choice for those prioritizing accurate detection in Millers Falls, MA.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Millers Falls, MA

Hair follicle testing in Millers Falls, MA shines with its extended detection capability, covering up to 90 days of substance use history. This long window enables employers to thoroughly assess an individual’s drug-related activities over a significant period, benefiting hiring and monitoring processes.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Hair Testing in Millers Falls, MA

Secure your testing outcomes with hair follicle procedures that markedly decrease adulteration chances. This method guarantees reliability, providing results that can withstand scrutiny and maintain their integrity throughout the process in Millers Falls, MA.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accessible Testing Locations in Millers Falls, MA

With an extensive network of testing centers nationwide, Accredited Drug Testing ensures accessibility and convenience. Residents and businesses in Millers Falls, MA can avail efficient, convenient hair testing services in a hassle-free manner, fostering ease and reliability.

Simple, Confidential Process

A Streamlined Confidential Process in Millers Falls, MA

The process of ordering, undergoing, and receiving hair test results is designed to be simple and confidential. Addressing privacy concerns, our approach in Millers Falls, MA ensures peace of mind while managing the testing process seamlessly and discreetly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Competitive Pricing and Swift Turnarounds in Millers Falls, MA

Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable pricing structures, countered with swift result availability, delivering exceptional value to businesses regardless of size in Millers Falls, MA. This ensures both cost-effectiveness and timely access to important information.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Accurate Hair Testing in Millers Falls, MA

Experience speed and precision with our hair follicle drug testing methods available at Accredited Drug Testing. Our tests provide robust accuracy levels that reliably unveil substance use patterns, offering critical data to inform both personal and professional decisions swiftly.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Assurance Through Compliance for Employers in Millers Falls, MA

Employing hair follicle testing allows organizations in Millers Falls, MA to maintain compliance with drug-free workplace standards seamlessly. This comprehensive approach not only ensures adherence to policies but also fortifies workplace safety and minimizes associated legal risks.

Drug Testing Near Millers Falls, MA

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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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