Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Hanover, NH

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is now recognized as an effective means for identifying both drug and alcohol use. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug consumption by embedding biomarkers in the strands as they grow. Gathered near the scalp, hair can offer a detection range extending up to roughly 3 months for various substances. Collection is straightforward, tampering is somewhat challenging, and shipping is uncomplicated.

A 1.5-inch segment comprising roughly 200 hair strands (approximately equivalent to a #2 pencil's width) nearest the scalp yields 100mg of hair, the preferred sample quantity for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or panels exceeding 10, 150mg of the sample is advisable. Utilize a jeweler’s scale to accurately weigh the specimen. If scalp hair is not an option, a comparable quantity of body hair is acceptable. When mentioning head hair, it specifically refers to scalp hair. Body hair denotes all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

There are four central steps in the lab processing of a drug test outcome: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves the sample’s preliminary processing into a lab's system. This process includes confirming proper sealing and shipment of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any supplementary data entry missing from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening conducts an initial swift examination for drugs of abuse. Screening is a budget-friendly method to exclude drug use in many samples, however, a positive result must be confirmed to be valid in a legal context. Samples preliminarily positive in Screening require further confirmation.

Should a sample show a presumptive positive in the Screening phase, additional hair is extracted from the original sample and readied for Extraction. Here, drugs are obtained from hair at significantly lower concentrations compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening particularly challenging.

Confirmation of any positive results from screening is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumptively positive undergo washing before confirmation as warranted. The whole lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is scrutinized under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and compliance with ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Long detection period: Hair drug tests can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which have a shorter detection period.
• Difficult to falsify: It's very challenging to falsify a hair drug test, enhancing result accuracy.
• Provides use history: It can show a timeline of drug usage over a span, not just recent occurrences.

Limitations:

• Recent use undetectable: It requires about 5-7 days for drugs to be traceable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug testing commonly costs more than other drug testing approaches.
• Result variability: Elements like hair color and personal hair growth variations can influence drug metabolite levels in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests," the analysis targets the hair strand instead of the follicle below the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Hanover, NH
The advantages of hair testing over traditional urine tests are notable in Hanover. Hair tests offer superior detection accuracy and reliability, ensuring users' substance use history is comprehensively reviewed. Unlike urine tests, which offer a limited window of detection, hair testing provides an extended period, making them especially useful for employers and organizations.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Hanover, NH
Hair follicle testing offers an unmatched detection period extending up to 90 days. This feature provides businesses with a complete view of an applicant or employee's substance use history. Having this extended window is invaluable for employers seeking to ensure a drug-free workplace environment in Hanover, offering significant advantages over shorter-period tests.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Hanover, NH
One of the key strengths of hair follicle testing is its resilience against tampering. This method significantly decreases the risk of sample adulteration, delivering results that are both reliable and indisputable. For employers and organizations in Hanover, this assurance is critical for maintaining integrity and trust in the testing process.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Hanover, NH
With testing centers spread nationwide, accessing hair follicle testing services is convenient and hassle-free for those in Hanover. Our widespread network ensures quick and easy testing without inconvenience, providing trusted and efficient drug testing solutions across the country.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Hanover, NH
The process for hair follicle testing in Hanover is designed to be simple and confidential. From ordering to taking the test and receiving results, every step prioritizes privacy and ease. Addressing all concerns regarding confidentiality and comfort is central to a streamlined drug testing experience.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Hanover, NH
Offering competitive pricing structures and swift turnaround times, we provide excellent value for companies of all sizes in Hanover. Clients benefit from cost-effective testing services coupled with the reassurance of fast and efficient result delivery, enhancing the overall testing experience.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Hanover, NH
Hair follicle drug tests are unmatched in precision and speed. They are highly effective at detecting substance use, making them a trusted choice for accurate results. The ability to quickly and accurately determine substance history is essential, especially in environments where knowing an individual's substance use history is critical.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Hanover, NH
In Hanover, hair follicle testing ensures compliance with drug-free workplace policies. Employers benefit from reduced legal risks and an enhanced sense of safety. By maintaining a rigorous and reliable testing strategy, businesses can focus on productivity while ensuring a secure working environment.

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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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