Hair Follicle Drug Testing - West Medway, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as an effective tool for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a long-term record of alcohol and other substances by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the growing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can present up to roughly a 3-month detection timeframe for alcohol and other drugs. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively tamper-resistant, and easy to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample consisting of about 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional screenings, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the specimen is suggested. It is advisable to weigh the specimen using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair cannot be obtained, an equivalent amount of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we refer solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result primarily includes Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the initial registration of a sample into a lab’s system. This process confirms that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigns a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any extra data entry not available through an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary quick assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to rule out drug usage on most samples, a positive screen requires further confirmation to be valid in court. Any samples deemed presumptively positive during Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests presumptively positive in the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen for preparation for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are drawn out from hair at much lower concentrations than in other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is executed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation as needed. The entire laboratory procedure from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection duration: Hair drug tests can reveal drug consumption for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection duration.
• Hard to manipulate: Cheating on a hair drug test is exceedingly difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Offers historical insight: It can depict a pattern of drug consumption over time, not merely recent usage.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent consumption: It requires approximately 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally incur higher costs than other drug testing procedures.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair color and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in the hair.

Note: Although commonly termed as "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In West Medway, MA, hair follicle testing offers superior advantages over traditional urine assays. Hair tests detect a greater range of substances, boasting unparalleled detection precision, elevating reliability in crucial circumstances.

Unlike urine tests, hair follicle assessments have an extended detection period, providing a more detailed overview of an individual's drug use, enhancing both accuracy and confidence in the results.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle drug testing in West Medway, MA, is characterized by its extended detection window, capable of identifying drug use up to 90 days retrospectively. This provides employers a full view of a subject's past substance use.

This prolonged detection period means that employers can ensure more informed hiring decisions, benefiting from a complete historical account of potential employees' drug testing results.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in West Medway, MA, presents a tamper-resistant solution to traditional drug testing, reducing chances of sample adulteration. It's a reliable method that delivers unquestionable results, enhancing test integrity.

By using hair samples, the risk associated with manual intervention during collection is minimized, proving essential for securing honest and dependable outcomes in drug testing.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing offers convenient testing centers nationwide, including West Medway, MA, ensuring hassle-free access to services. Our widespread location network facilitates easy and swift testing participation.

No matter where you are, our expansive reach and local presence ensure efficiency in both scheduling and conducting necessary tests, eliminating geographical barriers.

Simple, Confidential Process

In West Medway, MA, our hair follicle testing process is straightforward and confidential, providing peace of mind throughout ordering, conducting, and receiving results. Privacy is prioritized at every stage.

Our focus on ease and confidentiality ensures participants experience a seamless testing journey, with discreet handling of sensitive information, fostering confidence in our services.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

With competitive pricing models in West Medway, MA, hair follicle testing offers businesses of all sizes excellent value. Quick turnaround ensures results are delivered promptly, aiding timely decision-making.

Affordable yet reliable, our testing services cater to diverse client needs, marrying cost-effectiveness with premium service delivery, amplifying operational efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The speed and accuracy of hair follicle drug testing in West Medway, MA, set it apart, guaranteeing high precision in substance detection. This method ensures efficient results, providing fast, reliable information critical for decision-making.

Hair testing is designed to swiftly identify traces of drugs, maintaining the integrity of the results. The advanced technology behind these tests not only promises quick feedback but also enhances trust in the findings.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in West Medway, MA, find peace of mind in hair follicle testing for ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This leads to minimized legal exposure and improved workplace safety standards.

Utilizing hair follicle tests helps meet regulatory requirements effortlessly, ensuring businesses uphold stringent policy demands while preventing potential legal complications.

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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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