Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Weymouth Town, MA

What it is, How it works

Utilizing hair testing has emerged as a significant method for identifying the use of drugs and alcohol. Hair offers a prolonged window of detection for alcohol and substances by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When acquired near the scalp, hair can reveal up to a nearly 3-month detection span for substances and alcohol. Collecting hair is straightforward, somewhat challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of roughly 200 hair strands (akin to the diameter of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which serves as the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation procedures. For EtG tests, additional panels, or assessments exceeding 10 panels, a specimen of 150mg is advisable. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be gathered. When mentioning head hair, we imply scalp hair exclusively. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory process for processing a drug test result comprises four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the initial integration of a sample into a laboratory’s database. This step involves checking the sample's proper sealing and shipment, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is an initial, rapid assessment for drug abuse. Although Screening provides a cost-efficient method to eliminate drug usage in most samples, the courts require confirmation of a positive screen. Samples that are potentially positive during Screening must undergo secondary confirmation.

Should a sample be possibly positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepared for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are extracted from hair in much lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening the most challenging technique to execute.

The Confirmation of any positive result from Screening is conducted via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. Any samples deemed presumptive positive are cleaned before being confirmed as required. The entire laboratory process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Prolonged detection period: Hair drug tests offer the ability to detect drug use for up to 90 days, surpassing the shorter detection window of urine tests.
• Challenging to falsify: The difficulty in falsifying a hair drug test enhances the accuracy of the results.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a usage pattern over time, rather than merely indicating recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect very recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests are costlier than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color, and personal variances in hair growth might influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Even though they are colloquially termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

When comparing drug detection methods in Weymouth Town, MA, hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests. Hair analysis provides superior detection and reliability, unveiling substance use over a longer period. Unlike urine tests, which only detect recent use, hair testing gives a broader insight into an individual's drug use history, proving beneficial for employers.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Weymouth Town, MA, benefit from the extended detection window of hair follicle testing. With a capability to identify drug use up to 90 days prior, this method offers a comprehensive view into an applicant or employee's substance history. Such extensive coverage ensures that employers make informed decisions while adopting a robust approach to workplace safety.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Weymouth Town, MA, offers a tamper-resistant alternative to traditional drug tests. Reducing the risk of sample manipulation, hair tests provide unquestionable results. This method ensures that the testing process is both secure and reliable, leaving little room for adulteration or misrepresentation, thus fostering trust in the results obtained.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With convenient testing centers across the nation, individuals in Weymouth Town, MA, benefit from easy access to our drug testing services. This wide network ensures quick and hassle-free access, enabling clients to fulfill their testing needs efficiently. Whether local or nationwide, we simplify the process, making it accessible for all who require our services.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Weymouth Town, MA, our hair follicle testing process is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to receiving results, clients receive privacy and ease of use. Ensuring a straightforward experience, we address any concerns about discreet handling and accessibility, making the entire process hassle-free and trustworthy for everyone involved.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Offering competitive pricing in Weymouth Town, MA, our hair follicle testing services are both affordable and efficient. With fast turnaround times, we ensure value and peace of mind for businesses of all sizes. Our cost-effective approach meets diverse client needs while delivering exceptional service and reliability in a timely manner.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Weymouth Town, MA, hair follicle tests are renowned for their rapid and accurate results. Precision is ensured, providing credible results for substance detection. These tests maintain high accuracy in pinpointing drug use, offering both reliability and speed. Through testing, individuals and organizations receive precise findings that aid in confirming substance use with confidence.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For Weymouth Town, MA employers, utilizing hair follicle testing guarantees compliance with drug-free workplace policies. By reducing legal risks, this testing method enhances safety and fosters productivity. Ensuring a secure environment, these tests support employers maintaining productive, policy-aligned workspaces, granting peace of mind with each testing.

Drug Testing Near Weymouth Town, MA

North Hanover, MA

Assinippi, MA

Rockland, MA

Randolph, MA

North Abington, MA

Beechwood, MA

Holbrook, MA

Liberty Plain, MA

Accord, MA

Quincy, MA

Norfolk, MA

Hingham, MA

Braintree, MA

Braintree Town, MA

Weymouth, MA

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews