Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Blackwells Mills, NJ

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is increasingly recognized as an effective means of identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair can offer an extended timeline of substance use by embedding biomarkers within the hair shaft as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair analysis can yield a detection period for alcohol and drugs of roughly 90 days. Collecting hair is straightforward, relatively resistant to tampering, and convenient to ship.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches, comprising around 200 hair strands (approximating the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp, provides 100mg of hair—the optimal amount for analysis and verification. For EtG, additional tests, or panels exceeding 10, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. Utilizing a jeweler’s scale for weighing is suggested. Should scalp hair be unavailable, an equivalent volume of body hair can be gathered. "Head hair" refers specifically to scalp hair, whereas "body hair" encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory's drug testing involves four primary processes: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning is the initial integration of a sample into the laboratory's system. This step includes confirming the sample is properly sealed and shipped, generating a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any necessary data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening is a preliminary evaluation to detect possible drug misuse. Although Screening is an affordable method to evaluate the majority of samples for drug use, any positive result requires confirmation for legal validity. Samples yielding inconclusive results in Screening must undergo further verification.

Should a sample yield a possible positive result during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for Examination. Here, drugs are extracted from the hair at much lower concentrations than in other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), rendering hair drug screening a more complex method to implement.

Any positive Screening findings are verified through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Presumed positive samples are pre-washed prior to confirmation as necessary. The complete laboratory workflow from Accessioning to Confirmation is supervised under the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and accredited according to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify drug consumption for a period up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests that offer a shorter detection period.
• Challenges of manipulation: It is notably challenging to manipulate the results of a hair drug test, enhancing the accuracy.
• Showcases past usage: It can reveal a pattern of drug usage over time, not limited to recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Unable to identify recent consumption: Drugs become observable in hair approximately 5-7 days after use.
• Expense: Generally, hair drug tests cost more than alternative drug testing techniques.
• Result variations: Elements such as hair pigmentation and personal differences in hair growth can influence the concentration of drug metabolites in hair.

Note: Often labeled as "hair follicle tests", the analysis focuses on the hair strand rather than the follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Blackwells Mills, NJ, hair follicle testing surpasses urine testing due to its superior detection and accuracy. While urine tests are more common, they typically only detect recent drug use. Hair testing provides a broader detection window, identifying drug use patterns over a longer period. This makes hair testing a more robust option for employers seeking comprehensive evaluations of substance use.

Extended Detection Window

Employers in Blackwells Mills, NJ, favor hair follicle tests for their extended detection window. Unlike other methods, hair testing can reveal drug use for up to 90 days, offering a thorough overview of an individual's substance history. This longer timeframe allows for more informed decisions regarding employment and compliance with workplace policies.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing is a tamper-resistant method, significantly reducing the potential for sample adulteration in Blackwells Mills, NJ. This process ensures that employers receive results they can trust, reducing the risks of tampering and providing an accurate portrayal of an individual's substance usage, essential for maintaining workplace safety.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our testing locations in Blackwells Mills, NJ, and across the nation provide easy and convenient access to hair follicle testing services. These centers ensure a hassle-free experience, making drug testing efficient and accessible for everyone. Employers and individuals alike benefit from our widespread network of testing facilities.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Blackwells Mills, NJ, the process for hair follicle testing is straightforward and confidential. Ordering, conducting tests, and receiving results are streamlined to address privacy concerns and ease of use. Clients can have confidence in our secure procedures, ensuring that personal information remains protected while benefiting from reliable service.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our hair follicle testing services in Blackwells Mills, NJ, are competitively priced to offer exceptional value. With quick turnaround times, businesses of every size can benefit from our services without compromising on cost efficiency. Our focus on affordability and speed ensures that companies receive top-notch service at manageable prices.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug testing in Blackwells Mills, NJ, is known for delivering rapid and precise results. These tests boast high accuracy in spotting substance use over extended periods. The efficiency and trustworthiness of hair analysis offer an edge over other methods, ensuring that employers and courts receive fast and reliable insights into substance use patterns.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Utilizing hair follicle tests in Blackwells Mills, NJ, helps employers ensure compliance with drug-free workplace policies. It reduces legal risks and fosters a safe working environment. With the ability to detect drug use over an extended period, employers can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that their policy enforcement is robust and reliable.

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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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