Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Southborough, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair examinations have gained recognition as an effective means for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The strands of hair offer an extensive period record of alcohol and drug use because they encase biomarkers within the elongating hair fibers. When gathered near the scalp, hair supplies nearly a 3-month span for detecting drugs and alcohol. The collection of hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to transport.

A segment measuring 1.5 inches with around 200 hair strands (equivalent to the thickness of a #2 pencil) from nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which constitutes the optimal sample for screening and confirmation. For EtG, added tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. Utilization of a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample is recommended. In instances where scalp hair is absent, an equivalent portion of body hair might be gathered. The term "head hair" denotes only scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses other types (such as facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test results involves four essential stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the preliminary handling of a sample within a laboratory's framework. This step includes verifying the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any additional data input omitted by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening entails an initial swift assessment for drugs of misuse. Although Screening offers a cost-efficient method for excluding drug use in most samples, confirmation is necessary for a positive outcome to be legally acceptable in court. Samples testing presumptively positive during Screening demand subsequent confirmation.

Should a sample indicate presumptive positivity at the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial specimen for preparation in the Extraction phase. Here, drugs are retrieved from the hair at lower concentrations compared to other methods (for instance, urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most complex method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive result from screening is conducted through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positivity undergo washing before confirmation as required. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and conformance to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing identifies drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests with shorter windows.
• Resistance to tampering: The likelihood of cheating on a hair drug test is minimal, ensuring more precise outcomes.
• Historical substance use data: It reveals a drug use pattern over a prolonged period, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent usage: Drugs require approximately 5-7 days post-use to become noticeable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug evaluations generally incur higher costs than alternative testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Despite the common reference as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand and not the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing hair follicle testing to urine tests in Southborough, MA, the former stands out due to its higher accuracy and reliability. It provides superior detection capabilities, offering a robust assessment of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Southborough, MA, provides an extended detection window of up to 90 days. This comprehensive insight into an individual's substance history is invaluable for employers when evaluating potential hires or monitoring employees.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle drug tests significantly reduce the risk of sample tampering in Southborough, MA. This method ensures trustworthy and indisputable results, minimizing concerns of sample adulteration.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our extensive network of testing centers nationwide, including those in Southborough, MA, guarantees a seamless, convenient experience. We provide easy access to testing services, ensuring a hassle-free process for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Southborough, MA, our straightforward and confidential process for ordering, conducting, and receiving hair follicle test results ensures privacy and ease of use, addressing any concerns regarding confidentiality and procedure simplicity.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing and quick turnaround times make hair follicle testing in Southborough, MA, an excellent value proposition. We offer affordable solutions that cater to businesses of varying sizes, ensuring timely and effective results.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Southborough, MA, ensure fast, reliable, and highly accurate results. Their ability to effectively identify substance use sets them apart from other methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Southborough, MA employers, using hair follicle testing aligns with drug-free workplace policies. This approach helps reduce legal liabilities and enhances overall safety in the work environment, ensuring peace of mind for employers.

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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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