Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Belle Mead, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing has transitioned into an effective instrument for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a comprehensive timeline of alcohol and other drugs by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When procured near the scalp, hair can furnish up to about a 3-month detection span for alcohol and other drugs. Hair is straightforward to gather, relatively challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.

A 1.5-inch sample of around 200 hair strands (roughly the dimension of a #2 pencil) proximal to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, the optimal sample for examination and validation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or assessments surpassing 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest measuring the specimen on a jeweler’s scale. If head hair is inaccessible, a similar quantity of body hair may be gathered. In reference to head hair, we mean only scalp hair. Body hair signifies all other hair categories (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The principal stages in the laboratory processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning entails the preliminary integration of a sample into a laboratory’s framework. This encompasses confirming that the sample was correctly sealed and dispatched, assigning a randomized LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and finishing any extra data entry absent in an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening comprises an initial rapid evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical approach to exclude drug consumption in most samples, a positive screen requires confirmation to be court-admissible. Any samples that are presumably positive in Screening need a secondary verification.

If a sample is presumably positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the primary specimen and readied for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other techniques (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is why hair drug screening is the most complex method to execute.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is performed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples undergo washing prior to confirmation if necessary. The comprehensive laboratory process from Accessioning to Confirmation is assessed under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and is accredited to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine tests which present a shorter detection range.
• Challenging to manipulate: It is extremely arduous to deceive a hair drug test, enhancing result precision.
• Delivers historical insight: It can reveal a pattern of drug consumption over time, rather than just recent use.

Limitations:

• Incapable of detecting recent use: It requires roughly 5-7 days for drugs to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests typically cost more than alternative drug testing methodologies.
• Result variability: Aspects like hair color and individual differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Although commonly labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis itself evaluates the hair strand and not the follicle beneath the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Testing Beats Urine Testing in Belle Mead, NJ
Hair follicle testing surpasses traditional urine tests by enhancing detection precision and reliability. Its longer detection window allows for a more comprehensive overview of substance usage, making it the preferred choice for those prioritizing thoroughness and detail in drug screenings.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Belle Mead, NJ
A major advantage of hair follicle testing is its capability to record drug use over a longer duration, up to 90 days. This provides employers with a broader understanding of an individual's substance use pattern, offering a detailed perspective on long-term usage and habits.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Belle Mead, NJ
The hair follicle test method minimizes the potential for test result manipulation. Its sample collection process is observed and thorough, ensuring that results reflect a genuine and untampered account of an individual's substance use history.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Testing Locations in Belle Mead, NJ
Our extensive network of testing centers nationwide guarantees quick and easy access to services. This ensures that clients experience a seamless and stress-free process, whether locally based or spread across the country.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple and Confidential Process in Belle Mead, NJ
Our process for ordering and conducting tests is straightforward and confidential. Privacy is our priority, assuring clients that their information and results are handled securely and discreetly throughout.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Belle Mead, NJ
We offer competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times. With our efficient process, companies of varying sizes can enjoy superior value while ensuring effective and timely drug testing solutions.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast and Accurate Results in Belle Mead, NJ
Hair follicle drug tests provide quick, precise outcomes. Known for their high sensitivity, these tests accurately identify substance use, offering definitive results. Their reliability makes them an excellent choice in drug screening, highlighting rapid identification of drug compounds and ensuring trust in test results.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Belle Mead, NJ
Implementing hair follicle testing ensures adherence to workplace drug regulations, enhancing safety and reducing legal liabilities. Employers benefit from peace of mind knowing that their drug-free policies are upheld with reliable testing methods.

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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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