Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Allendale, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has emerged as a crucial method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. As hair encases biomarkers within the fibers of its advancing strands, it offers a comprehensive historical account of alcohol and drugs. If collected near the scalp, hair may reveal up to a 3-month detection period for alcohol and drugs. The collection is straightforward, modification-resistant, and facilitates effortless shipment.

Taking a 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hairs (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is perfect for screening and verification. For EtG, supplementary analyses, and/or tests exceeding 10 panels, a sample of 150mg is advised. Using a jeweler's scale for weighing the sample is recommended. In the absence of scalp hair, an equivalent volume of body hair is acceptable. The term head hair precisely refers to scalp hair alone, while body hair encompasses all other types (like facial, armpit, etc.).

Process Overview

The drug test laboratory procedure involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

During Accessioning, a sample is initially processed into the lab's system. This phase ensures proper sealing and delivery of the sample assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number) and completes any missing data entry from an electronic chain of custody.

Screening serves as an initial swift evaluation for drugs. Although Screening efficiently eliminates drug use in most samples, a confirmed positive screening is necessary for legal acceptability. Samples deemed tentatively positive during Screening require additional verification.

If Screening indicates a tentative positive, additional hair is extracted from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are retrieved from hair at lesser levels compared to other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), hence hair drug screening is the most challenging strategy to execute.

Verification of any positive Screening result is achieved via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples marked as tentative positives undergo necessary washing before confirmation. The entire lab procedure, from Accessioning to Verification, is examined under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair criteria and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug analyses can identify drug usage for up to 90 days, while urine tests offer a brief detection span.
• High resistance to deception: Since deceiving a hair drug test is exceedingly challenging, the results are more dependable.
• Offers historical insight: It reveals a pattern of drug usage over time, unlike methods that only detect recent use.

Limitations:

• Inability to identify recent use: Drugs become detectable in hair approximately 5-7 days post-consumption.
• Expense: Hair drug tests are typically costlier than alternate testing methods.
• Result variations: Variables like hair color and personal differences in hair growth may influence drug metabolite concentrations in the hair.

Note: Often branded as "hair follicle tests", this analysis actually examines the hair strand instead of the follicles beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Allendale, NJ

Hair follicle tests offer a distinct advantage over traditional urine tests primarily due to their enhanced detection accuracy. These tests boast a much longer detection window and are incredibly difficult to tamper with.
Employers and courts value the comprehensive insights these tests provide, offering a clearer picture of an individual’s drug use history, unlike urine tests, which are more limited.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Allendale, NJ

In Allendale, NJ, hair follicle testing provides a remarkable capability to detect drug use up to 90 days prior. This extended detection window offers employers a thorough understanding of an individual’s substance use history. Such comprehensive insights are unparalleled compared to traditional methods, enabling better-informed decisions in hiring and management.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Allendale, NJ

Hair follicle testing in Allendale significantly reduces the risk of tampering, ensuring reliability and authenticity in test results. Unlike other methods, hair samples are hard to adulterate. This security measure offers businesses confidence in maintaining integrity within drug-free workplace policies, enhancing the credibility of their drug screening processes.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Allendale, NJ

Offering convenience, our testing centers nationwide and in Allendale simplify the process of securing a hair follicle drug test. With extensive coverage, testing becomes a hassle-free experience, ensuring access to necessary services promptly. This wide reach means quick facilitation without location barriers, serving communities efficiently.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Allendale, NJ

The hair follicle testing procedure in Allendale is both simple and confidential, designed to protect individual privacy. From ordering to obtaining results, each step ensures ease of use while maintaining confidentiality. Individuals can be assured of a discreet process, crucial in addressing privacy concerns and fostering trust.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Allendale, NJ

Allendale offers competitive pricing for hair follicle testing with rapid turnaround times. This affordability ensures businesses of all sizes can access and benefit from the service. Coupled with quick results, it provides excellent value, enabling organizations to make informed decisions efficiently and economically.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Allendale, NJ

Hair follicle testing in Allendale is renowned for its speed, precision, and reliability. This method efficiently detects substance use with superior accuracy. Turnaround times for results are impressively swift, providing peace of mind by confirming or ruling out drug use with minimal delay.
Employers can trust the credibility of hair testing, ensuring informed decision-making on hiring and workplace safety.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Allendale, NJ

Utilizing hair follicle drug testing in Allendale is a proactive step towards ensuring compliance with drug-free workplace policies. It minimizes legal risks, fostering a safer working environment. Employers gain peace of mind, knowing they are upholding high standards of safety and legal adherence through dependable testing.

Drug Testing Near Allendale, NJ

Washington Township, NJ

Darlington, NJ

Mahwah, NJ

Franklin Lakes, NJ

Woodcliff Lake, NJ

Ridgewood, NJ

Wyckoff, NJ

Midland Park, NJ

Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

Upper Saddle River, NJ

Ramsey, NJ

Waldwick, NJ

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews