Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Wareham Center, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an impactful method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged history of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strands. When obtained near the scalp, hair offers up to roughly a 3-month detection window for substances. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat resistant to tampering, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample, consisting of approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) near the scalp will yield 100mg, which is optimal for screening and confirmation. For EtG, add-ons, and tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. It is suggested to weigh the sample using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is inaccessible, a similar amount of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, while "body hair" includes all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The four key steps in laboratory processing for drug test results include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial processing phase within a lab's system. This involves confirming the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any additional data entry not covered by an electronic custody chain system.

Screening is an initial rapid assessment for substance abuse. Although Screening is an economical means to exclude drug use for most samples, to be court-admissible, a positive screen requires confirmation. Samples with a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate further confirmation.

Should a sample return a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is drawn from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. In this phase, substances are extracted from hair at significantly lower concentrations than with other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence hair testing is considered the most challenging method.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples with presumptive positives are cleansed before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under 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 identify drug use for as long as 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection span.
• Hard to manipulate: Tampering with hair drug tests is quite challenging, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Historical insights: It can show drug use patterns over time, not solely recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It typically takes around 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs compared to other testing methods.
• Result variability: Factors like hair color and personal hair growth differences can impact drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although these tests are often termed "hair follicle tests", the testing actually involves the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing is a superior choice over traditional urine testing in Wareham Center, MA. Comprehensive detection of substances in hair samples provides a reliable and accurate method, greatly enhancing the confidence in results. Unlike urine tests, which only reveal recent usage, hair testing unravel patterns up to 90 days back, giving a broader picture that urine tests simply can't match.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Wareham Center, MA, benefit from the extended detection window that hair follicle testing provides. This method identifies drug usage over the past 90 days, offering a detailed perspective of an individual's substance history. By using hair testing, organizations gain valuable insights into potential or current employees, enabling better-informed hiring and management decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The hair follicle testing method in Wareham Center, MA, greatly minimizes the risk of sample tampering. Hair samples offer a highly secure manner of drug testing, as they are much harder to adulterate compared to urine samples. Such stringent integrity in sample collection and testing ensures the results are dependable and leaves no room for manipulation or deception.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides convenient testing locations in Wareham Center, MA, augmented by a wide network of centers nationwide. This wide availability simplifies access to drug testing services, ensuring swift and stress-free experiences for individuals and organizations. Quick and easy testing access reflects Accredited Drug Testing's commitment to convenience and service efficiency.

Simple, Confidential Process

Wareham Center, MA residents benefit from a simple and confidential hair follicle testing process with Accredited Drug Testing. Efficient processes ensure ease of use, from ordering to testing and receiving results, prioritizing client privacy and convenience. Such straightforward procedures alleviate concerns about confidentiality, making the testing experience smooth and secure for all.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive and affordable pricing for hair follicle testing in Wareham Center, MA, paired with fast turnaround times. This excellent value supports companies of all sizes by providing quality service at reasonable costs. Timely and cost-effective results ensure peace of mind, reinforcing the value offered to both individuals and employers.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The hair follicle drug testing procedure in Wareham Center, MA, stands out for its swift and precise results. Hair tests excel in detecting substance use with remarkable accuracy. In comparison to other methods, they deliver swift outcomes, ensuring that results reach employers and individuals in a timely manner. This quick turnaround offers a sense of reliability and efficacy unmatched by other testing processes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Wareham Center, MA, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies, offering peace of mind. Compliance with these policies reduces legal exposures while promoting a safe, drug-free working environment. Employers adopting this testing method bolster their company's integrity and contribute positively to workplace safety.

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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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