Hair Follicle Drug Testing - New Hampshire

Accredited Drug Testing has 80 hair drug testing centers in 120 NH cities.

Please select a city from the list below to find hair drug test centers in New Hampshire.

Hair follicle drug testing, commonly called hair drug testing, is a validated technique for spotting drug consumption by studying hair specimens.

How it works:

• Drug enters bloodstream: When drugs are consumed, both the substance and its breakdown products (metabolites) enter the circulatory system.
• Drugs reach hair follicles: Since each hair follicle contains a blood vessel, drugs travel through the bloodstream into the follicle.
• Drugs get trapped in hair: During hair growth, small amounts of these substances embed in the cortex of the hair strand.
• Hair sample collection: A portion of hair is taken, usually from the scalp (or body hair if scalp hair is insufficient).
• Lab analysis: The hair sample is assessed in a lab.
  • Screening: An initial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test screens for drug metabolites.
  • Confirmation: If ELISA yields a positive, a more precise confirmation test, like Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) or Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), verifies drug metabolites, ruling out false positives.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests that have a shorter detection span.
• Difficulty to cheat: Cheating on a hair drug test is very difficult, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides historical data: It supplies a pattern of drug consumption over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot detect recent use: It takes about 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Cost: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing techniques.
• Variations in results: Factors like hair color and personal variances in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites within the hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand instead of the scalp's hair follicle

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.

Mobile/On-Site Drug Testing

If you're an employer needing to test 25 or more employees and looking to save time and money, we offer mobile on-site drug testing where we come to you. Call us today for more information.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in New Hampshire

Our hair follicle drug testing services in New Hampshire provide fast, accurate, and reliable results. The advanced testing methods employed ensure high precision, identifying various substances with confidence. Employers can trust the consistency of our accurate test outcomes.

The turnaround time for test results is swift, allowing clients to make informed decisions quickly. This efficiency helps maintain business operations without significant interruptions. The combination of speed and accuracy makes our services a preferred choice for drug testing.

Extended Detection Window in New Hampshire

Hair follicle testing in New Hampshire offers an extended detection window of up to 90 days, providing a comprehensive view of an individual’s substance use history. This long-term insight is crucial for employers looking to understand the patterns and duration of drug use.

The ability to detect drugs over months rather than days means employers can make more informed decisions about potential hires and current employees. This extended detection period offers a more reliable assessment of an individual's commitment to maintaining a drug-free lifestyle.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in New Hampshire

The hair follicle testing method is resistant to tampering, presenting a highly reliable option for drug testing in New Hampshire. Unlike urine tests, hair samples are difficult to adulterate, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of results.
Employers can confidently rely on the authenticity of the data obtained from hair follicle tests, knowing the samples are less susceptible to manipulation. This significantly reduces the risk of false negatives or positives, providing peace of mind in the results obtained.

Utilizing tamper-resistant methods enhances the overall integrity of the testing process, making hair follicle testing the preferred choice for organizations committed to upholding stringent drug-free workplace policies.

Why is Hair Follicle Drug Testing Important

Hair Follicle Testing vs. URINE Testing: Hair testing excels in long-term drug detection, covering up to 90 days of substance use. This extended detection window proves vital for comprehensive screening needs.

The superior reliability of hair testing stems from its precision in identifying chronic drug use, unlike URINE tests that might miss infrequent or recent use.

• Extended detection window.
• Reduced tampering possibility.
• Higher accuracy for chronic use detection.

While URINE tests are popular for short-term detection, hair testing offers unparalleled accuracy, reducing false negatives and ensuring more consistent results across testing scenarios.

For New Hampshire workplaces emphasizing reliability, hair follicle testing surpasses other methods, including URINE, in delivering consistent and precise insights into substance use trends.

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