Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Ashland, NH

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a robust tool for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair provides an extensive history of alcohol and other drugs by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the hair strand as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair offers up to roughly a 3-month detection window for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is easy to obtain, not easily tampered with, and convenient to transport.

A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 strands (similar to the size of a #2 pencil) nearest the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the perfect sample size for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, supplemental tests, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest weighing the sample on a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair isn’t available, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be collected. By head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal steps involved in processing a drug test result in a lab are Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning encompasses the preliminary processing of a sample into a lab’s system. This involves confirming that the sample was appropriately sealed and sent, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any extra data recording not available via an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening provides an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening is a cost-efficient method to rule out drug usage for most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples that appear positive during Screening need secondary confirmation.

If a sample appears positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial sample and readied for Extraction. At this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at a markedly lower concentration than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which makes hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive result from Screening is performed via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples that appear positive are washed before confirmation if necessary. The complete laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is reviewed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection window: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with a shorter detection window.
• Hard to cheat: It is extremely challenging to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Delivers historical data: It can show a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: Drugs take about 5-7 days to be detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests generally cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Variability in results: Variables like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can impact drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand and not the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Choose Hair Follicle Testing Over Urine Tests in Ashland, NH? Hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests with its extended detection window and accuracy. It provides a comprehensive view of a person's drug history, unlike urine tests which detect recent use only. Businesses adopting this method benefit from insightful evaluations of potential employees.

The reliability of hair testing in identifying drug use is significantly higher, as it avoids the pitfalls of substitution or adulteration often associated with urine tests. Additionally, the non-invasive nature of collecting hair samples makes the process more straightforward and efficient.

Extended Detection Window

Hair follicle testing in Ashland, NH, offers an extended detection window, identifying drug use up to 90 days prior. This prolonged period provides employers with significant insights into past substance use, allowing a more informed decision-making process for hiring or evaluating employees.

Especially in industries where safety is paramount, knowing an applicant's drug history over several months rather than days helps maintain a drug-free workplace, thus enhancing overall safety and productivity.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests provide a nearly tamper-resistant way of screening for drugs in Ashland, NH. Unlike urine tests, which are prone to manipulation, hair testing's rigorous collection methods and inherent difficulty in adulteration offer peace of mind regarding the integrity of specimen samples.

The confidence in authenticity and accuracy of hair follicle testing results stems from its design to expose attempts at fraud, delivering outcomes that are both credible and indisputable.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenience and accessibility dominate with our nationwide testing facilities, extending also to Ashland, NH. Accredited Drug Testing ensures you have hassle-free access to hair follicle drug testing services locally, allowing for quick and easy engagement with our processes.

Whether managing a large corporation or a small business, enjoy peace of mind knowing that a testing center is always within reach. Nationwide locations remove logistical hurdles, making testing efficient and straightforward.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Ashland, NH, remains simple and confidential. Our streamlined system ensures your order, test, and results each step prioritizes privacy and ease of use, making it an effortless choice for employers and individuals alike.

This discreet approach respects personal privacy while assuring efficient, accurate reporting, reinforcing trust in a system designed for both ease and effectiveness.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Accredited Drug Testing offers affordable pricing and rapid turnaround times in Ashland, NH, reinforcing our commitment to value. With competitively priced hair follicle drug testing, businesses receive excellent service without compromising their budget needs, ensuring peace of mind throughout the process.

Fast results paired with cost-effective solutions make hair testing a preferred choice for companies seeking comprehensive, timely substance use analytics without the financial burden.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests offer speed and precision, ensuring that results in Ashland, NH, are both fast and highly accurate. Rapid turnaround times marry with keen detection ability to not only flag substance use but do so with a reliability unmatched by other testing methods.

The accuracy of hair testing means a decreased likelihood of false positives or negatives. This reliability is crucial for companies needing to maintain safety and compliance with drug-free policies, which hinge on trustworthy test outcomes.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

For employers in Ashland, NH, hair follicle testing ensures compliance and reinforces peace of mind by supporting drug-free workplace mandates. It minimizes potential legal risks associated with non-compliance and promotes the secure, efficient operational environment businesses strive to uphold.

The utilization of hair testing equips businesses with a consistent and reliable method of enforcing drug policies. The accuracy and long detection window further instill confidence in maintaining a safe workspace free of substance influence.

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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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