Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Onset, MA

What it is, How it works

Seen as an effective method, hair testing excels in identifying substance and alcohol usage. It records an extended timeline of both alcohol and narcotics by integrating biomarkers within the hair's structure. When severed near the scalp, hair may reflect up to a three-month detection span for both alcohol and drugs. It's easy to obtain, difficult to tamper with, and simple to send for analysis.

To attain the optimal 100mg of hair for assessment, a 1.5-inch segment comprising around 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp is necessary. For EtG, additional tests, and procedures exceeding ten panels, it's suggested to use 150mg of the sample. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing the sample is advised. If scalp hair is inaccessible, an equivalent amount of body hair is an alternative. The term "head hair" solely denotes scalp hair. All other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.) are termed "body hair".

Process Overview

Four chief stages are crucial in the lab processing of a drug test result: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the foundational handling of a sample into a lab’s framework. This covers ensuring the sample's seal and shipment are intact, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any other data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening acts as a preliminary quick scan for any substance abuse. Screening offers a budget-friendly means to exclude drug usage in most samples, yet a positive screen necessitates further confirmation to become court-admissible. Thus, samples testing presumptively positive in the Screening stage demand secondary authentication.

Should a sample show presumptive positivity during the Screening stage, additional hair is extracted from the initial collection and prepped for Extraction. This phase captures drugs from hair at a markedly reduced concentration versus other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), explaining why hair drug screening is notably challenging to execute.

To confirm any positive screening findings, techniques like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS are employed. Any presumptively positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive lab method, spanning from Accessioning to Confirmation, is assessed within both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the certification to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection duration: Hair drug assessments can spot drug usage for as long as 90 days, versus urine tests with a briefer detection period.
• Resistance to deceit: Hair drug tests are notably hard to falsify, thus enhancing result precision.
• Reflects historical substance use: It reveals drug use trends over time, not solely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent consumption: Drugs take close to 5-7 days to become traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug assessments tend to be pricier than most other drug testing approaches.
• Outcome variability: Aspects like hair color and individual differences in hair growth may impact the levels of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly termed "hair follicle tests", these tests scrutinize the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Onset, MA, hair follicle testing stands out for its superior accuracy compared to traditional urine tests. These tests provide dependable results due to their extended detection capabilities.

Employers favor hair testing for its consistency and reliability. Unlike urine tests, which only reveal recent use, hair tests allow for a more thorough assessment of an individual's history.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Onset, MA, offers an extended detection window, tracking substance use for up to 90 days. This longer period presents a holistic view of an individual's drug history.

Ideal for pre-employment screenings, this test uncovers past substance use trends, helping employers make informed hiring decisions. It's a proven method for gaining comprehensive insight.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

One of the main advantages of hair follicle testing in Onset, MA, is its tamper-resistant nature. The collection process minimizes the risk of sample adulteration, providing unquestionable results.

Unlike other tests, hair testing presents a significant barrier against tampering, ensuring results are both dependable and credible. This adds another layer of trust and reliability.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With nationwide testing centers, including locations in Onset, MA, our services offer convenience and accessibility. The ease of access ensures a hassle-free testing experience.

Our widespread network of centers guarantees that you will always find a location nearby, enabling quick and efficient testing procedures with minimal disruption.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Onset, MA, the hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving your results, our streamlined approach protects privacy at every step.

Transparent procedures ensure ease of use and stress-free experience, where concerns of personal information security are always prioritized.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable pricing and fast turnaround times for hair follicle testing in Onset, MA. Our competitive price structures provide excellent value for companies.

This swift service not only meets budgetary constraints but also provides quick results, ensuring businesses of all sizes get the best from their investment.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

With hair follicle drug tests in Onset, MA, expect fast, precise, and reliable results. The accuracy in identifying substance use is notably high, offering a preferred method over other tests.

State-of-the-art technology ensures that results are delivered quickly while maintaining high standards of accuracy. This balance of speed and trustworthiness is what makes hair follicle drug testing so dependable.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Onset, MA, benefit from hair follicle testing as it helps maintain compliance with workplace drug-free policies. This testing simplifies risk management and enhances safety.

Using this method, companies can effectively mitigate legal risks while fostering a safer workplace environment, granting peace of mind for both employers and employees.

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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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