Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Plainfield, MA

What it is, How it works

Recognized as a robust method, hair testing is leveraged for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair strands offer a lasting record of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the hair's growing fibers. When procured near the scalp, hair can offer approximately a 3-month detection window for alcohol and drugs. Hair collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, the perfect amount for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing. If scalp hair isn't present, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. "Head hair" refers to scalp hair only, while "body hair" encompasses all other types of hair (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning is the initial step of entering a sample into a lab’s system. This step ensures the sample was sealed and shipped correctly, allocates a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening serves as the preliminary check for substance abuse. While Screening is a budget-friendly way to eliminate drug use in most samples, a positive result requires validation to be legal in court. Any samples that are tentatively positive in Screening need a secondary verification.

Should a sample test presumptively positive during Screening, more hair is drawn from the original specimen for Extraction. Drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations here than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing a challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that test presumptive positive are washed before confirmation as necessary. The complete lab process—from Accessioning to Confirmation—is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can observe drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which offer a shorter detection window.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is highly challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical data: It indicates a timeline of drug consumption over a duration, beyond just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why choose hair follicle testing over traditional urine tests in Plainfield, MA? The former offers superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, which have a shorter detection window, hair tests analyze drug use over the long term.

Choosing hair follicle over urine tests provides unmatched precision. Employers and others requiring accurate substance use screening benefit greatly from the hair method, ensuring a complete picture of drug history.

Extended Detection Window

In Plainfield, MA, hair follicle testing's extended detection window of up to 90 days provides a comprehensive view of an individual’s substance use history. This longer period allows an in-depth understanding of a candidate or employee’s drug habits.

Covering a three-month period, employers gain valuable insights and make informed hiring or disciplinary decisions, ensuring workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper resistance is a significant advantage of hair follicle testing in Plainfield, MA. This method greatly reduces the risk of adulteration, ensuring reliable and incontrovertible results that clients trust.

The robustness of hair tests against tampering makes them an ideal choice for maintaining integrity in situations where result validity is paramount, such as in legal or employment settings.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Access to convenient testing locations is paramount for easy testing in Plainfield, MA. With a network of nationwide centers, Accredited Drug Testing ensures a quick, easy, and hassle-free experience.

Our facilities across the nation guarantee prompt service, allowing for streamlined hair follicle testing and results reporting, vital for timely decisions and compliance.

Simple, Confidential Process

The simple, confidential process in Plainfield, MA ensures ease when ordering and completing hair follicle tests. Privacy concerns are addressed effectively, offering peace of mind.
This process respects individual confidentiality and supports efficient operations in obtaining and reporting results, enhancing client trust and satisfaction.

Users appreciate the straightforward procedure, which safeguards personal details while delivering accurate results swiftly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing in Plainfield, MA, offers competitive pricing and fast turnarounds. Our pricing structures are designed to deliver excellent value for businesses of all sizes without compromising quality.
Quick turnaround times ensure minimal disruption to operations, allowing employers to make timely decisions based on reliable test outcomes.

Providing both affordability and speed, our services meet the demands of a diverse clientele seeking efficient drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Plainfield, MA, delivers rapid and precise results. Known for its outstanding accuracy, this method ensures substance use is reliably identified. The swift processing of tests enhances decision-making for employers, aiding in maintaining workplace safety and policy compliance.

The high level of accuracy associated with hair follicle testing makes it a preferred choice for detecting substance abuse. Clients benefit from experiencing a streamlined process that swiftly returns dependable results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Plainfield, MA, achieve compliance and peace of mind through hair follicle testing. This method supports adherence to drug-free workplace standards, reducing legal risks and fostering a secure working environment.

By employing hair testing, companies minimize substance use risks and enhance overall safety and productivity, ensuring a compliant and reliable workforce.

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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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