Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Woodville, MA

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has become recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers an extended history of alcohol and other substances by embedding biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When taken near the scalp, hair can provide roughly a 3-month detection period for alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, not easily tampered with, and straightforward to transport.

A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the ideal sample for both screening and validation. For EtG, additional testing, and/or assessments exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is recommended. It's advisable to measure the sample using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair isn't available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be gathered. When we mention head hair, it pertains solely to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result consists of four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial stage of transferring a sample into a lab's system. This step involves checking that the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not covered by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary rapid test for substances of abuse. While Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug use for the majority of samples, a positive result needs to be verified to be valid in legal proceedings. Any samples with a presumptive positive in Screening require a secondary confirmation.

In the case of a presumptive positive at the Screening stage, more hair is pulled from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. At this stage, substances are extracted from hair at levels much lower than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most intricate methodology to conduct.

Any positive result from screening is confirmed through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are washed before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• High accuracy: It is quite challenging to evade a hair drug test, ensuring more precise results.
• Provides usage history: It can reveal a drug use pattern over time, not just recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent use: It typically takes 5-7 days for substances to become detectable in hair.
• Higher cost: Hair drug testing is generally pricier than alternative drug testing methods.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Woodville, MA recognizes hair follicle testing's superiority over urine tests. Hair analysis offers greater accuracy and reliability in detection, providing a comprehensive view of substance use.

• Longer Detection Period: Unlike urine tests, hair analyses can detect drugs used up to 90 days prior, offering a broader perspective.
• Accurate and Reliable: Challenges associated with traditional testing methods are minimized, ensuring clear, trustworthy results every time.

Extended Detection Window

Woodville, MA employers favor hair testing for its extended detection window. Spanning up to 90 days, this method delivers insights into the substance use history of potential hires.

Employers can rest assured knowing they have a more thorough understanding of an individual's drug use, minimizing risks associated with hiring and maintaining a drug-free work environment.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Choose hair follicle testing in Woodville, MA for its intrinsic tamper-resistance. This method significantly deters sample adulteration, yielding results that are as reliable as they are conclusive.

• Unquestionable Integrity: Each test is collected under observation, preventing manipulation.
• Secure Procedures: Woodville's trusted facilities ensure stringent adherence to testing protocols.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

With numerous testing centers nationwide, including in Woodville, MA, Accredited Drug Testing offers unmatched convenience. This ensures residents find local, easy access to our premier testing services.

Whether locally or across the country, our centers are strategically situated for hassle-free access, expediting the testing process for all clients.

Simple, Confidential Process

We ensure a seamless process in Woodville, MA, from test order to receipt of results. Confidence in confidentiality, our approach prioritizes privacy and ease of use.

• Streamlined Steps: Experience a smooth intake and testing journey.
• Confidential Results: Your privacy is paramount, assured through our secure procedures.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

In Woodville, MA, Accredited Drug Testing provides competitively priced hair follicle testing with rapid turnaround. This offers significant value alongside prompt results.

Our pricing benefits businesses of any scale, appealing to a broad range of budgets, while delivering timely insights into potential substances detected in test samples.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Woodville, MA, hair follicle drug tests set the standard for speed and precision. Unlike other methods, they offer unmatched accuracy in identifying substance use, providing expedited and trustworthy outcomes.

Benefits of Hair Follicle Testing include their reliability in capturing drug history with great accuracy. This swift, meticulous approach ensures Woodville residents receive dependable results for both personal and professional purposes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Businesses in Woodville, MA benefit from hair follicle testing as it supports compliance with drug-free policies. This choice boosts workplace safety and minimizes potential legal issues.

Employer Assurance: By adopting this method, organizations demonstrate commitment to safety and policy adherence, thereby fostering a secure work culture.

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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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