Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Rehoboth, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within its developing strands. When harvested near the scalp, hair samples can potentially reveal a detection period of up to 90 days for alcohol and drugs. Collection of hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of around 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp results in 100mg of hair, the preferred quantity for screening and confirmation processes. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advisable. It's best to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. Reference to head hair implies only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug testing process within the lab involves four major phases: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of the sample's initial entry into a lab's system. This process ensures the sample is properly sealed and dispatched, assigns it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and handles any supplementary data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails a preliminary assessment for drug presence. Although Screening economically rules out drug usage in most cases, a positive screen necessitates confirmation for judicial acceptability. Any samples showing a presumptive positive result during Screening must undergo a secondary confirmation.

Upon receiving a presumptive positive result in the Screening stage, further hair samples are drawn from the original collection for the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are derived from hair at notably lower concentrations compared to other testing forms (like urine or saliva), which accounts for hair drug screening's complexity.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Pre-confirmation, all presumptive positive samples are cleansed according to requirements. The complete laboratory protocol from Accessioning to Confirmation adheres to CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation of ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection span: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with a shorter detection period.
• Resistance to manipulation: Cheating a hair drug test proves challenging, enhancing result accuracy.
• Illustrates historical usage: It illustrates drug consumption patterns over time, not merely current use.

Limitations:

• Lacks recent use detection: Approximately 5-7 days are necessary for drugs to become discernible in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than alternative testing methods.
• Result variations: Influences like hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite levels in the hair.

Note: Though commonly called "hair follicle tests", the examination is performed on the hair strand, excluding the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Rehoboth, MA, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests. Its benefits include unparalleled accuracy and reliability in detection.

Employers seeking improved drug detection processes favor hair testing for its extended detection window and robust reliability, surpassing the limitations found in urine tests.

Extended Detection Window

Hair testing in Rehoboth, MA offers a superior detection window, spanning up to 90 days. This allows employers a comprehensive glimpse into one's substance-use history.

This extended detection period provides unparalleled advantages over other testing methods, offering an in-depth analysis of one's past drug usage.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

In Rehoboth, MA, hair follicle tests reduce tampering risks, ensuring reliable and unquestionable results.

This test's ability to minimize sample adulteration offers an edge, ensuring authenticity and accuracy without compromise.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Rehoboth, MA benefits from our vast network of testing centers, offering convenient and hassle-free access to hair testing services across the nation.

Local residents can take advantage of nearby locations, ensuring swift and easy access to essential testing solutions.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Rehoboth, MA, our hair follicle testing process is simple and confidential. Ordering, testing, and receiving results is streamlined to preserve privacy and ease concerns.

This straightforward procedure ensures that privacy is prioritized, delivering results with minimum hassle and maximum confidentiality.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and fast turnaround in Rehoboth, MA, offer outstanding value for hair follicle tests.

Employers of all sizes can rely on our cost-effective solutions, which deliver rapid results without sacrificing the quality or peace of mind.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Rehoboth, MA proudly offers hair follicle tests that deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results. These tests stand out due to their precision, efficiently detecting substance use.

The rapid turnaround of hair follicle testing in Rehoboth assures individuals and employers the confidence in its accuracy. This method's credibility stems from its innovation and ability to identify substance misuse with exceptional precision.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Rehoboth, MA, can rely on hair follicle tests for compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method fortifies workplace safety and minimizes legal risks.

The enhanced reliability of hair testing aids in maintaining a safe and drug-free environment, reducing potential legal concerns significantly.

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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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