Hair Follicle Drug Testing - South Deerfield, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has gained recognition as a potent means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a historical record of alcohol and drug usage by capturing biomarkers within the strands as they grow. Collected near the scalp, hair can reveal usage within a roughly 3-month window for drugs and alcohol. Hair is straightforward to collect, somewhat resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A sample of 1.5 inches consisting of about 200 hairs (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) from near the scalp provides 100mg of hair, well-suited for preliminary and confirmatory testing. For EtG, additional tests, and those exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the hair. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

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

Accessioning marks the start of processing a sample into the lab's system. This entails ensuring the sample's seal and shipment were intact, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry if not done via an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. While it's a cost-efficient approach to dismiss drug usage in most samples, positive screens need confirmation for court suitability. Samples that are provisionally positive in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

When Screening indicates a presumptive positive, more hair is prepared from the sample for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are removed from hair at a markedly lower concentration than with other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), underscoring the complexity of hair drug analysis.

Positive screening results undergo Confirmation using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS technologies. Presumptive positive samples are cleansed before Confirmation as required. All laboratory operations from Accessioning to Confirmation are scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair guidelines and the ISO/IEC 17025 standard accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify usage up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter span.
• Challenging to manipulate: Cheating a hair drug test is notably tough, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers long-term data: It reveals drug usage patterns over time, not merely recent activity.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: Drugs appear in hair after approximately 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing tends to cost more than other methodologies.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal differences in growth can impact metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Though often named "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually evaluates the hair strand not the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In South Deerfield, MA, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests because of its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Hair analysis can detect a wider range of substances over an extended period, unlike urine tests, which may miss recent or long-term drug use. This makes hair testing the preferred choice for organizations enforcing strict drug policies.

Extended Detection Window

With hair follicle testing in South Deerfield, MA, employers gain a far-reaching view into an individual's substance history, thanks to its 90-day detection window. This comprehensive approach allows employers to understand patterns of usage, ensuring more informed decisions when assessing applicants or monitoring current employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in South Deerfield, MA, is renowned for its robustness against tampering. The process ensures reliable and unquestioned results by making it nearly impossible to adulterate samples. This tamper-resistant testing method reinforces trust in drug screening outcomes, benefiting both employers and law enforcement agencies.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing ensures that accessing testing services in South Deerfield, MA, is seamless, thanks to our extensive network of nationwide centers. Local availability means that drug testing is convenient and hassle-free, allowing individuals and businesses to receive essential services swiftly and effectively.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for drug testing in South Deerfield, MA, is both simple and confidential. From ordering a test to receiving results, Accredited Drug Testing prioritizes privacy and ease of use, addressing any concerns surrounding confidentiality and ensuring a streamlined procedure for all clients.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In South Deerfield, MA, our competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times set us apart. Companies of all sizes benefit from affordable testing services that deliver value and peace of mind, ensuring that drug screening needs are met promptly and without financial strain.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in South Deerfield, MA, are unparalleled. This method stands out for its exceptional accuracy when it comes to identifying substance use. Hair testing ensures fast results, minimizing waiting periods for employers and agencies that require prompt drug screening outcomes, thereby enhancing decision-making with reliable data.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in South Deerfield, MA, find peace of mind with hair follicle testing, as it ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This form of testing reduces legal risks associated with drug use in the workplace and enhances overall safety, providing a more secure and productive environment for all.

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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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