Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Pembroke, NH

What it is, How it works

Hair examinations have emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures a prolonged history of substance usage by embedding biomarkers within the fibers of the growing strand. When samples are taken near the scalp, they can provide a detection period of up to roughly three months for alcohol and other substances. Hair is easy to collect, hard to tamper with, and straightforward to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of around 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp, will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal quantity for screening and verification. For EtG, add-ons, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advisable. It's suggested to measure the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not available, a comparable amount of body hair can be collected. "Head hair" refers exclusively to scalp hair, while "body hair" encompasses all other kinds (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The primary stages in the lab processing of a drug test outcome include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning pertains to the initial integration of a sample into a lab's system. This phase includes verifying the proper sealing and shipping of the sample, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finalizing any additional data entry absent from an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening consists of an initial rapid assessment for drugs of abuse. While Screening offers a budget-friendly means to eliminate drug usage in most samples, a positive screen demands confirmation to be legally valid. Any samples yielding presumptive positives during Screening necessitate further confirmation.

In cases where a sample exhibits a presumptive positive in Screening, more hair is extracted from the original specimen and prepared for Extraction. At this stage, drugs are separated from hair at markedly lower concentrations than other methodologies (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug testing is recognized as the most challenging methodology to conduct.

Confirmation of any positive screening outcome is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive specimens are cleansed prior to confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation undergoes review under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extensive detection period: Hair drug analyses can reveal drug use up to 90 days, whereas urine tests have a limited detection timeframe.
• High difficulty in evasion: Cheating a hair drug test is exceptionally challenging, enhancing the reliability of results.
• Offers historical information: It provides a pattern of substance use across time, rather than merely identifying recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent usage: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expenses: Hair drug testing is typically more costly compared to alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences may influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the examination involves analyzing the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Pembroke, NH, hair follicle tests provide advantages over urine tests with their superior detection capabilities. Hair tests can identify drug use over a more extended period, ensuring that employers and organizations receive a comprehensive understanding of substance use, surpassing the narrower time frame of urine tests.

With their high reliability and lower risk of evasion, hair follicle tests negate the common downsides of traditional urine testing, presenting a deeper insight into an individual's drug history.

Extended Detection Window

The long detection window offered by hair follicle tests is noteworthy in Pembroke, NH, capturing substance use history up to 90 days. This feature gives employers a broad view of an applicant's or employee’s behavioral patterns.

This extended assessment period enables organizations to make well-informed decisions rooted in a more nuanced understanding of an individual’s drug use history, ensuring compliance and safety in the workplace.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

The integrity of hair follicle tests is unparalleled, especially in Pembroke, NH. The testing method significantly reduces tampering, presenting results that are authentic and credible. Unlike urine tests, which can sometimes be manipulated, hair samples provide a record that is resistant to contamination.

This deterrent to tampering ensures that tests reflect an accurate history of drug use.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Accredited Drug Testing provides convenience with widespread testing locations, spanning Pembroke, NH and nationwide. With our comprehensive network, testing becomes a swift and straightforward experience, removing the hurdles often seen in tackling drug testing procedures.

This broad geographic accessibility ensures that individuals and employers alike can benefit from our testing services rapidly and without inconvenience.

Simple, Confidential Process

Ensuring ease and confidentiality, the process for hair follicle testing in Pembroke, NH is designed for simplicity. Employers and individuals can rest assured knowing their privacy is respected at every stage, from ordering to obtaining results.

At Accredited Drug Testing, privacy is a priority, with every step taken to maintain the highest levels of discretion and service.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing strategy at Accredited Drug Testing ensures affordability in Pembroke, NH, without compromising on swift results. Businesses benefit from clear pricing structures alongside fast service delivery.

With quick turnaround times, companies receive excellent value, making it easier to stay ahead of the curve with drug testing needs at an appealing price point.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

The efficacy of hair follicle tests lies in their precision and quick turnaround. In Pembroke, NH, these tests stand out due to their accuracy in spotting substance use, providing results that are not only fast but reliable as well. Accredited Drug Testing ensures that as soon as a specimen is collected, the testing process swiftly follows, leading to timely results that enable informed and decisive action.

The unmatched accuracy of these tests, particularly in Pembroke, NH, is ideal for scenarios demanding quick and dependable results. This is especially advantageous for employers and legal entities who rely on rapid, yet thorough testing methods.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Pembroke, NH gain peace of mind and legal compliance by incorporating hair follicle testing. This method aligns neatly with drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal risks while improving organizational safety.

By choosing hair follicle testing, companies fortify their commitment to safety and compliance, affirming their zero-tolerance drug use stance.

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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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