Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Tisbury, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as a potent technique for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. The hair retains long-term indicators of substance use by embedding biomarkers into the hair strand's fibers as it grows. If gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of up to three months for detecting alcohol and other substances. Hair sample collection is straightforward, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil’s thickness) taken nearest to the scalp will yield 100 mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplementary analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, it’s advised to use 150 mg of the sample. We suggest measuring the sample on a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent portion of body hair can be gathered. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair solely. Body hair includes all other types (like facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four principal stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the preliminary processing of a specimen into the lab’s system. This process encompasses verifying that the specimen was appropriately sealed and dispatched, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and inputting any additional information not supplied via an electronic chain-of-custody system.

Screening involves an initial swift assessment for illicit drugs. Though Screening is a cost-efficient method to exclude drug use for most samples, any positive screen must be confirmed to be legally acceptable. All samples that are tentatively positive in Screening necessitate a follow-up confirmation.

Should a sample show tentative positivity during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the original sample for preparation for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other techniques (such as urine or oral fluid), which explains why hair drug testing presents the most intricate methodology.

Confirmation of any positive Screen result is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens undergo washing prior to confirmation when needed. The entire lab procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under the guidelines of both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use spanning up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a narrower detection timeframe.
• Hard to manipulate: It’s exceptionally challenging to deceive a hair drug test, which makes the results more reliable.
• Tracks usage patterns: It offers insights into drug use patterns over time, not simply recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot indicate recent use: Drugs manifest in hair only after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more compared to alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and individual hair growth differences can influence the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Commonly termed "hair follicle tests", this test examines the hair strand, not the hair follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Compared to urine analyses, hair testing offers superior accuracy in Tisbury, MA, showcasing a wider detection range with higher trustworthiness.

This method consistently outperforms urine tests, revealing a deeper insight into patterns of substance use over extended durations.

Extended Detection Window

The hair follicle method provides an extensive detection window in Tisbury, MA, tracing drug residue up to 90 days.

This expanded timeframe offers employers a comprehensive evaluation of substance consumption habits among potential or current staff.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Tisbury, MA stands out as a tamper-resistant solution, greatly minimizing the risk of sample adulteration.

With its trustworthy detection results, hair testing ensures the utmost reliability, combatting efforts at compromising test integrity.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With a network of testing centers nationwide, and local options in Tisbury, MA, we guarantee accessible, convenient drug screening services.

Our widespread reach enables individuals and businesses to undergo testing swiftly and effortlessly.

Simple, Confidential Process

Hair testing in Tisbury, MA ensures simplicity and confidentiality, guaranteeing a seamless experience from test order to result acquisition.

This method prioritizes user privacy and ease, addressing potential client concerns promptly and discreetly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering cost-effective pricing and rapid turnaround, testing in Tisbury, MA provides top-tier value for organizations regardless of scale.

Our efficient processes assure businesses of various sizes in obtaining accurate results swiftly and economically.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The effectiveness and swiftness of hair follicle drug testing stand out in Tisbury, MA, being both prompt and precise in identifying trace substances.

Renowned for its accuracy, hair follicle testing reliably detects various substances long after consumption, offering unparalleled insight into long-term usage trends.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Tisbury, MA, hair follicle testing guarantees adherence to workplace policies, lessening legal risks and bolstering environment safety.

Employers gain peace of mind with hair testing, ensuring ongoing compliance and secure work environments.

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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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