Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Weston, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair examination has garnered recognition as an influential method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair retains a prolonged history of alcohol and other substances by trapping biomarkers within the strands of developing hair fibers. When taken near the scalp, hair can reveal usage detection for up to about a 3-month period concerning alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, fairly resistive to adulteration, and convenient to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising approximately 200 hair strands (comparable to the width of a #2 pencil) gathered nearest to the scalp, yields 100mg of hair, which is the optimal amount for evaluation and verification. For EtG, supplemental tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, a 150mg specimen is advisable. It is suggested to weigh the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent portion of body hair might be obtained. Mention of head hair implies exclusively scalp hair. Body hair pertains to all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result comprises four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary intake of a sample into the laboratory system. This encompasses ensuring the sample's sealing and correct shipment, allocating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any extra data input absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial rapid assessment for abuse drugs. While Screening offers a cost-efficient way to eliminate drug usage for most samples, a confirmed positive screen is necessary to ensure court admissibility. Any samples suggested as positive in Screening must undergo an additional confirmation.

If Screening indicates a presumptive positive sample, additional hair is extracted from the original specimen for Extraction. At this juncture, drugs are extracted from the hair at notably lower concentrations than in alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), proving hair drug screening as the most challenging method to implement.

Any positive screening results necessitate Confirmation via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Necessary samples with presumptive positives are cleansed prior to confirmation. From Accessioning to Confirmation, the overall lab procedure is audited under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and ISO / IEC 17025 standards accreditation.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a limited detection period.
• Challenging to evade: Cheating on a hair drug test is significantly more difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Generates historical insight: It can demonstrate a pattern of drug usage over an extended duration, not merely recent activity.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs require approximately 5-7 days to be ascertainable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically incur more cost than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Outcome Variability: Elements such as hair pigmentation and individual hair growth differences can influence drug metabolite concentration within the hair.

Note: Despite often being called "hair follicle tests", the testing procedure actually analyzes the hair strand and not the follicle portion beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Weston, MA, hair follicle testing is coming out on top when compared to conventional urine tests. The primary advantage is its superior detection accuracy and reliability. Unlike urine tests, hair tests provide a more extended detection period, offering a more thorough overview of an individual's drug use history.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Weston, MA, benefit from the extended detection window offered by hair follicle tests, which can identify drug use up to 90 days prior. This capability allows for a comprehensive evaluation of an applicant's or employee's substance history, giving companies insight into long-term patterns.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Weston, MA, significantly curb the chances of sample tampering, ensuring reliable outcomes. With strict collection protocols in place, these tests are designed to be tamper-resistant, offering peace of mind with results that are beyond dispute.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our extensive network of testing centers offers unrivaled convenience, with locations available nationwide and locally in Weston, MA. Our centers provide quick, easy, and hassle-free access to testing services, ensuring that clients have constant access to reliable drug testing.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Weston, MA, the process for hair follicle drug testing is simple and confidential. From ordering the test to taking it and receiving the results, every step is designed to protect privacy and assure ease of use. Clients can trust that their information is handled discreetly.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Weston, MA, benefits from competitive pricing and swift turnaround times for hair follicle drug testing. Our affordable rates ensure that businesses of all sizes receive excellent value, while quick processing times provide peace of mind for time-sensitive needs.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

For residents of Weston, MA, hair follicle drug testing stands out as a fast, precise, and trustworthy option. With its high degree of accuracy, these tests efficiently detect substance use, providing clarity and reliability that stakeholders can depend on. The rapid processing of these tests ensures timely results while maintaining integrity.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Adopting hair follicle testing in Weston, MA, brings peace of mind to employers, ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. This method reduces legal hazards and bolsters workplace safety, assuring that companies maintain high standards while safeguarding their workforce.

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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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